Sabalenka Claims Brisbane Repeat Amid Simmering Rivalry

In the humid haze of Pat Rafter Arena, Aryna Sabalenka carved out her second straight Brisbane International title with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Marta Kostyuk. The top-ranked Belarussian dispatched her opponent in 1 hour and 17 minutes, marking her third final here and 22nd career crown as the Australian Open nears on January 18. This tuneup victory sharpened her baseline dominance, yet the match pulsed with layered tensions that extended beyond the scoreline.

Kostyuk lunged early, hammering Sabalenka’s second serves and threading sublime drop shots that skimmed the net, clawing back an early break amid rising crowd murmurs. The Ukrainian’s flat groundstrokes sliced through the thick air, briefly unsettling the world No. 1 and testing her footwork on the grippy hard courts. Sabalenka steadied with deep breaths, countering through grinding rallies that leveraged the Brisbane humidity to wear down her rival’s precision.

Kostyuk’s early fire meets Sabalenka‘s steel

Sabalenka absorbed the pressure in the opening set, redirecting Kostyuk’s aggression with heavy topspin forehands that pinned the Ukrainian deep. She shifted to a patient 1–2 pattern, following crosscourt exchanges with inside-out winners that opened the court and forced errors. By the 40-minute mark, the Belarussian pocketed the set, her fist pumps signaling a psychological reset as the humidity amplified every extended point.

The history between them added edge: Kostyuk’s refusal to shake hands after their 2023 French Open encounter lingered, compounded by her past interview remarks on testosterone levels, which she later deemed taken out of context. As Sabalenka sealed match point, she locked eyes across the net and kissed her biceps—a gesture that echoed those comments and hung heavy in the arena’s hush. This wasn’t mere celebration; it reclaimed ground in a rivalry laced with personal and geopolitical strains.

Humidity turns tides in second set surge

With Kostyuk’s legs slowing under the physical toll, Sabalenka accelerated, blending raking backhands down-the-line with her own deceptive drop shots to mount unforced errors. The top seed’s serve held firm at a 70% first-strike win rate, disrupting Kostyuk’s rhythm and turning defense into swift offense on the medium-paced surface. No sets dropped all week, this flawless run underscored her readiness for Melbourne’s demands, where endurance will define deep runs.

During the trophy ceremony, Kostyuk’s passionate tribute to Ukraine avoided naming her victor, while Sabalenka extended measured congratulations, expressing hope for another final clash soon. She lightened the mood with a quip toward boyfriend Georgios Frangulis in the box. “Hopefully soon I will call you somehow else,” Sabalenka said. “That just put extra pressure, right?”

Across the draw, Daniil Medvedev notched his 22nd title, easing past Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 7-6(1) in 1 hour and 34 minutes. The former world No. 1 dominated the tiebreaker, snatching the first five points with flat, penetrating groundstrokes that skimmed the lines and wore down the American’s solid returns. Medvedev’s backcourt patience, laced with slice backhands, hinted at sharpening form for the Slams ahead.

Brisbane’s hard courts tested adaptability in the southern summer swelter, blending surface grip with mental fortitude for both champions. Sabalenka’s tactical tweaks—safer crosscourt starts evolving into aggressive inside-in finishes—bridge her power with finesse, while Medvedev’s break-point conversion (4 of 5) mirrors her efficiency. As rankings tighten and rivalries intensify, these wins propel them toward an Australian Open where every adjustment could spark breakthroughs.