In a thrilling Brisbane International final, Aryna Sabalenka faced off against Polina Kudermetova in a match that had everyone on the edge of their seats. The final, which took place on Sunday, saw Sabalenka come back from a set down to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, securing her 18th career title.
The match was intense from the start, with Kudermetova, a 21-year-old qualifier, making a strong start and taking the first set 6-4. Sabalenka, the world number one, struggled with her serve early on, getting broken three times in the opener. However, she showed her resilience and quality in the second set, breaking Kudermetova twice to level the match.
The deciding set was a battle of nerves and power, with both players pushing each other to the limit. Sabalenka managed to break Kudermetova early in the set and held on to her lead, eventually closing out the match in 1 hour and 47 minutes.
After the match, Sabalenka described the final as “crazy” and mentioned that both players were “overheating” due to the intense competition. She praised Kudermetova’s performance, calling it “really aggressive” and acknowledging that the young Russian deserved to be in the final.
Sabalenka’s victory in Brisbane is a perfect warm-up for her title defense at the Australian Open, where she aims to become the first woman to win three consecutive Australian Open titles since Martina Hingis. With her win in Brisbane, Sabalenka heads to Melbourne Park with confidence and momentum on her side.
The match was a testament to Sabalenka’s mental and physical toughness, as well as Kudermetova’s potential as a rising star in women’s tennis. It was a fitting end to an exciting tournament and a preview of what’s to come at the Australian Open.
Aryna Sabalenka in 2025
Now the world no.1, Sabalenka played her last match on the 5th of January when she overcame Polina Kudermetova 4-6 6-3 6-2 in the final in Brisbane to win her 18th career title.
This year Sabalenka owns a composed 5-0 record. Sabalenka conquered 1 title in Brisbane.
