Sabalenka Rewrites Rematch Against Keys
Aryna Sabalenka channeled last year’s Australian Open sting into a commanding straight-sets victory over Madison Keys at the Brisbane International, breaking serve five times to advance amid the heat of major preparation.
On the sun-warmed hard courts of Pat Rafter Arena, Aryna Sabalenka stepped into a rematch carrying the weight of her 2025 Australian Open final loss. The world No. 1 transformed that defeat into dominance, breaking Madison Keys in five straight service games en route to a 6-3, 6-3 win in 90 minutes. Sabalenka’s heavy topspin forehands and deep returns exploited the quicker Brisbane surface, flipping the script on their Melbourne encounter as the crowd’s energy swelled with each point.
She seized the first break in the seventh game of the opening set, an inside-out forehand forcing Keys deep and opening the court for a crosscourt winner. Keys, the 30-year-old American, faltered under pressure, her second serve yielding just 33% of points alongside eight double faults that echoed off the arena walls. Sabalenka then claimed six of the next seven games, with Keys interrupting only once by breaking to start the second set before the Belarusian’s rhythm took over.
“I didn’t really have the throwback to the Australian Open last year, to be honest,” Sabalenka said. “I know that I lost in Australia against her, and it’s a big motivation, of course, to go out and get the win. But I always look into the [next] match as like a new match against a new player. That’s my approach.”
Breaks expose serve vulnerabilities
Sabalenka targeted Keys’ second delivery with low, skidding returns that gripped the hard court, disrupting her setup and leading to errors in extended rallies. This one–two pattern—aggressive serve followed by a sharp crosscourt forehand—kept the American pinned, her flat backhand struggling against the steep bounce. Keys saved two match points in the second set’s eighth game, but Sabalenka served out at love, her volley sealing the straight-sets triumph as the afternoon sun dipped lower.
The vulnerability stemmed from the surface’s pace, quicker than Melbourne’s cushioned courts, amplifying Sabalenka’s power while exposing Keys’ delivery. Since that Grand Slam heartbreak nearly 12 months ago, Sabalenka has notched two straight-sets wins over her, including a 6-0, 6-1 rout at Indian Wells, signaling tactical adjustments that now favor her baseline command.
Emotions tamed for steady focus
Sabalenka’s growth lies in her mental poise, a shift from the frustrations that once unraveled her matches. She dismisses head-to-head records, treating each opponent as new, which has turned potential setbacks into fuel. “Doesn’t matter if I’m the one who is leading head-to-head or I’m the one who is losing. I don’t care,” she said, her words reflecting a maturity that propelled her through a year of French Open final, US Open title, and WTA Finals runner-up finish.
This composure shone as she navigated the Brisbane heat, balancing the drive for matches with the season’s grind she calls insane. Earlier in the tournament, she vowed to skip events and risk fines to avoid burnout, prioritizing rhythm ahead of the Australian Open on January 18. Keys, heading to Adelaide to defend her title, eyes a momentum rebuild for another Melbourne surge, her resolve evident in post-match reflections.
Semifinal path thickens draw
Next for the defending Brisbane champion comes 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova, who edged Elena Rybakina 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to snap the No. 3 seed’s 13-match streak. Muchova leads Sabalenka 3-1, including a win over the WTA Finals champion, setting up a test of varied spins against raw power on these pacey courts. Her slice backhands could counter the Belarusian’s topspin, forcing adjustments in neutral exchanges.
Elsewhere, fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula outlasted No. 10 Liudmila Samsonova 6-3, 7-6 (3), her steady returns prevailing in the tiebreak via down-the-line passes. Pegula faces No. 16 Marta Kostyuk, who toppled sixth-seeded Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (7), 6-3, using underspin to vary pace and expose the teenager’s aggression. The bracket’s depth heightens the stakes, mirroring the intensity building toward Melbourne.
“Hopefully I can gain and then just keep a lot of momentum going,” Keys said. “Hopefully there is many more firsts to come.” For Sabalenka, this victory anchors her swing, but sustaining the edge against crafty foes like Muchova will shape her major bid.
“I’m just trying to get some matches, get some wins,” she reflected earlier, “and get the rhythm going again.” As the Brisbane courts preview Australian Open battles, her blend of power and patience positions her to peak without fracturing.