(No. 1) Aryna Sabalenka def. (No. 16) Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominance in Australia on Sunday, winning her second consecutive Brisbane International title with a straight-sets win over Marta Kostyuk at Pat Rafter Arena.
Sabalenka defeated Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3 in just over an hour to claim her 22nd career WTA Tour title and her fifth overall in Australia. The Belarusian, who has now reached the Brisbane final for the third straight year, looked right at home as she closed out the match in 1 hour and 17 minutes.
The Brisbane International serves as a key tune-up event for the Australian Open, which begins January 18, and Sabalenka appears to be peaking at the right time. She did not drop a set all week en route to the title, despite a competitive challenge from Kostyuk in the final.
The world No. 1 asserted control early in the match, holding serve before grinding out a break in the opening set for a 2-0 lead after converting her fourth break point. She extended the advantage to 3-0 before Kostyuk mounted a brief comeback, winning three consecutive games to level the set at 3-all.
The opening set remained on serve until the 10th game, when Sabalenka seized a narrow opening to break once more and close out the set. She was perfect behind her first serve in the opener, winning 100% of those points.
In the second set, Sabalenka showed why she is one of the tour’s most formidable frontrunners. She again held to open, broke immediately for a 2-0 lead, and quickly stretched the advantage to 3-0. This time, Kostyuk was unable to respond.
Sabalenka highlighted her dominance with a perfectly executed drop shot followed by a crosscourt forehand winner to hold for 4-1, then served out the match comfortably a few games later. While she was not untouchable on serve, she still won 81% of her first-serve points and faced just three break points, dropping only one. She converted three of her eight break-point opportunities in return games.
Sabalenka’s latest title win moves her past Victoria Azarenka for the third-most WTA Tour titles among active players, trailing only Venus Williams and Iga Swiatek.
With her first title of the 2026 season secured, Sabalenka now shifts her focus to the Australian Open. The world No. 1 enters Melbourne as the top seed, looking to capture a third title at the year’s first major after finishing as runner-up to Madison Keys in last year’s final.
