Daijiworld Media Network - Brisbane

Brisbane, Jan 11: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka reclaimed her Brisbane International title on Sunday, defeating Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3 in just 1 hour and 18 minutes at Pat Rafter Arena. The Belarusian claimed the trophy without dropping a set all week, marking her fifth Australian title and the 22nd overall of her career, surpassing Victoria Azarenka to become third on the list of active WTA titleholders, behind Venus Williams and Iga Swiatek.

“It’s super special… I’m happy to start the season on such a high note and with the level I was able to maintain throughout the week,” Sabalenka said after her victory.

With this win, Sabalenka became one of only three women to successfully defend the season-opening WTA 500 title, joining Serena Williams and Karolina Pliskova in the tournament’s elite history.

The match began with Sabalenka surging to a 3-0 lead in the first set. Kostyuk fought back to level the set at 3-all, but Sabalenka regained control, converting her second break point to close the first set in 40 minutes. She carried the momentum into the second set, winning six consecutive games to secure a commanding 3-0 lead and eventually serve out the match.

“First of all, I want to congratulate Marta and her team on an incredible start to the season. I wish you all the best this year, and I hope we meet many more times in finals,” Sabalenka said, maintaining her perfect five-match record against the Ukrainian.

With Brisbane in her trophy cabinet, Sabalenka now shifts focus to the Australian Open, where she is the defending runner-up after losing to Madison Keys last year. Entering as the No. 1 seed, she will aim for her third Melbourne title.

For Kostyuk, the runner-up finish boosts her back into the WTA Top 20 and hints at a potentially deeper run at the Australian Open, improving on her third-round exit last year.