Sabalenka Edges Past Muchová in Brisbane Thriller

In the thick humidity of Pat Rafter Arena, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka muscled her way to the Brisbane International final for the third straight year, downing Karolina Muchová 6-3, 6-4 in a semifinal that crackled with tension. Muchová's variety—those slicing backhands and probing crosscourts—kept Sabalenka on her toes, but the Belarusian’s heavy topspin forehands turned the tide, especially after breaking at 4-3 in the opener with a sharp one-two: deep serve into a down-the-line winner. The crowd leaned in as the second set tightened, Muchová saving three match points with gutsy lobs and inside-in strikes, only for her final backhand to drift long on the fourth chance.

Muchová‘s variety meets Sabalenka’s resolve

Muchová sliced underspin to disrupt the rhythm early, pulling Sabalenka wide with inside-out backhands that exploited the Brisbane hard courts’ quicker pace. Sabalenka adapted by crowding the baseline, absorbing the low balls and firing crosscourt replies that clipped the lines, holding firm without dropping a single break point in the first set. Her 32 winners spoke to that efficiency, blending power with precision on a surface that rewards aggressive returns.

As the score hit 5-4 in the second, Muchová ramped up the pressure, her flat groundstrokes forcing Sabalenka into scrambles and unforced errors. The arena buzzed with each deuce, the Czech’s defensive lobs buying time while Sabalenka reset with quick footwork slides. That mental edge—honed in offseason drills—let her pounce on the fourth match point, turning a prolonged rally into victory.

Keys rematch fuels momentum

The day before, Sabalenka flipped the script on Madison Keys in a 6-3, 6-3 rematch of last year’s Australian Open final, breaking her five straight service games with low-slice returns that jammed the American’s swing. Keys had upended her in Melbourne for that first Grand Slam title, but here Sabalenka’s returns targeted the body, disrupting the serve that once haunted her. This win layered steel onto her preparations, transforming past vulnerabilities into weapons.

With all four break points saved against Muchová, Sabalenka heads to her 13th WTA 500-level final carrying that fire, the Brisbane event a vital tune-up for the Australian Open starting January 18. Her path Sunday pits her against the winner of fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula and Marta Kostyuk, a clash that could test her against steady baseline games much like Melbourne’s demands. The hard courts’ true bounce here mirrors the Slams, letting her refine patterns like inside-out serves to keep opponents guessing.

Men’s draw adds American flavor

Over in the men’s bracket, top-seeded Daniil Medvedev takes on Alex Michelsen later Saturday, pitting the Russian’s grinding baseline against the young American’s flat aggression. The other semifinal features two U.S. players, Aleksandar Kovacevic versus Brandon Nakashima, both chasing a breakthrough on these responsive courts. Medvedev’s counterpunching could echo the tactical depth from the women’s side, where variety meets power in tight exchanges.

For Sabalenka, this run sharpens more than strokes—it’s a mental forge, building composure amid the weight of defending her Australian Open crown. As Brisbane’s energy fades into Sunday’s decider, her unbreakable serve and present-focused mindset signal a strong prelude to the majors ahead.