Sabalenka’s Brisbane Run Reveals Tactical Depth
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defended her Brisbane title without dropping a set, blending raw power with subtle touch to outmaneuver a field that tested her evolving game ahead of Melbourne.
Aryna Sabalenka planted her feet on the sun-baked hard courts of Pat Rafter Arena, her final serve slicing through the humid air to seal a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Marta Kostyuk. The Ukrainian’s aggressive baseline exchanges evoked echoes of Sabalenka’s own early career, but the world No. 1 responded with a mix of heavy topspin forehands and delicate drop shots that kept her opponent lunging in vain. This title defense capped a flawless week, where she swept through five matches without surrendering a set, her biceps kiss a playful tribute to the physical and mental grind that forged this more complete player.
“I’m happy you saw that,” Sabalenka said. “This is something I have been working for probably my whole life, but never really worked well for me. And then a couple years ago, I finally found the touch game. I figured [out] something, and I kind of changed my game style. Now I’m not only the aggressive player. I can play at the net, I can be in the defense, I can use my slice, I have a good touch … to have that variety in my game, to have A, B, C plans for the match. And I’m super happy to see that things are clicking together.”
Preseason break sharpens versatile edge
Sabalenka stepped away from the racquet for two weeks after the WTA Finals, returning six kilos heavier before channeling that reset into intense gym work and on-court drills. This deliberate pause allowed her to rebuild with fresh eyes, emerging with a baseline game fortified against prolonged rallies and a net presence that turned defense into sudden attacks. In the quarterfinals, she dismantled Madison Keys 6-3, 6-3, using a deep slice backhand to jam the American’s flat returns and open angles for inside-in forehands that pierced the court.
The Brisbane hard courts, with their medium-paced bounce, rewarded these adjustments, gripping her topspin just enough to let underspin lobs hang in the air and disrupt aggressive returns. Kostyuk felt the weight of this evolution in the final, as Sabalenka alternated crosscourt backhands that stretched her wide with down-the-line passes that exploited brief openings. Her 38 wins in 40 matches Down Under over the past three-plus years now stem not just from power but from this layered approach, where a one–two pattern of serve and forehand keeps opponents off balance.
“I worked really, really hard during the preseason and I think I added some things to my game that were working really well today. That put much more pressure back on her and I feel like she couldn’t deal with that pressure today.”
Physically stronger than last year, she absorbed pace in the semifinals and redirected it with volleys that clipped the lines, the crowd’s murmurs building to cheers as points tilted her way. This preseason reinvention addressed past vulnerabilities, transforming her from a power-dependent hitter into someone who thrives in varied exchanges, her touch game adding unpredictability to the familiar thunder.
Net rushes disrupt baseline battles
Against Kostyuk, Sabalenka’s newfound affinity for the net turned routine rallies into high-stakes volleys, a second-set winner in the opening game forcing the Ukrainian to scramble from deep. She followed serves with low slices that skidded low on the surface, drawing opponents forward only to punish with overhead smashes that echoed through the arena. This tactical shift, honed in Brisbane’s humid conditions, prepared her for the Australian Open’s similar setup starting January 18, where she’ll defend her title as the two-time winner of the last three.
Victoria Azarenka’s back-to-back Brisbane crowns in 2012 and 2013, or Andre Agassi’s four Australian Open triumphs, remind how early-season form on these courts can ignite a major run. Sabalenka’s week delivered at least 10 sets against tough draws, each match refining her ability to switch from defensive lobs to aggressive inside-out forehands mid-point. The depth in the women’s game demands such versatility, and her Brisbane dominance—free of the stats obsession—positions her to navigate Melbourne’s pressure cooker with quiet confidence.
“I think I had a lot of touch in my game. I became much better at the net, which is an extra pressure for the opponent. Also my baseline game is stronger. I feel like physically I’m much stronger than last year.”
Her team’s guidance keeps the focus inward, encouraging bravery in new shots like a drop shot that died just over the net against Keys, eliciting gasps from the stands. This isn’t mere adaptation; it’s a psychological pivot where pressure fuels experimentation, turning the season’s opening tests into building blocks for deeper runs.
Mental fire sustains top ranking
Sabalenka laughed through reflections on her three straight Australian Open finals, insisting predictions are futile in tennis’s chaos but vowing to fight harder than ever. The weight of No. 1 status, held for over a year, sits lightly on her, transformed by a childhood dream that reframes stress as motivation amid the tour’s rising parity. Young fans’ admiration adds fuel, her love for the sport propelling her through tight moments where others might falter.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m really enjoying that. I don’t know … I think I’m really competitive and I always remind myself when I’m under pressure that this is something I’ve been dreaming of since a very young age. And that really helps me a lot in those under-pressure moments. That pushes me to work hard and do better. I just have so much love for this sport and also seeing kids being inspired by me, that’s something that keeps me going.”
For 2026, she sets no rigid targets, prioritizing growth as player and person in a field where every match demands a Plan B. Brisbane’s cheers still ring in her ears as she heads to Melbourne, her tactical mastery now intertwined with emotional resilience, ready to extend her reign one varied point at a time. This holistic edge promises a year of sustained battles, where her Brisbane blueprint guides the path forward.
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