Ominous Sabalenka Wins Second Brisbane Title

World number one Aryna Sabalenka warmed up for a tilt at a third Australian Open title in four years in an ominous 6-4, 6-3 win over Marta Kostyuk in just 78 minutes to win her second successive Brisbane International crown on Sunday.

“Every day you go out there and prove your level, and I think this week I did it really well,” said Sabalenka after a week in which she powered to the title without dropping a set.

Salablenka lost in the Melbourne Park final last year to Madison Keys, having been the Australian Open champion in 2023 and 2024.

“I’ll do my best to go as far as possible, and do a little bit better than last year. That’s my focus.” said Sabalenka.

Ominous Sabalenka Wins Second Brisbane Title. AFP

Kostyuk, the world number 26, had enjoyed a spectacular week, beating three top ten players on the way to the final. But she had no answer to the power of Sabalenka and the Ukrainian’s serve, so reliable in the early rounds, also went off the boil.

Sabalenka was rarely troubled on her own delivery and faced only three break points.

There has been animosity between the two players in the past. Like many Ukrainian players, Kostyuk refuses to shake hands with Russians or Belarusians because of the war in her homeland.

There was no handshake at the end of the Brisbane final, and in her concession speech, Kostyuk brought up the situation in Ukraine.

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