TOP-RANKED Aryna Sabalenka has captured her second consecutive Brisbane International title, and 22nd overall, with a straight sets victory over Marta Kostyuk on Sunday. It was the third year in a row Sabalanka appeared in the final and the Belorussian player looked in comfortable surroundings as she closed out a 6- 4, 6-3 victory in just 1 hour and 17 minutes at Pat Rafter Arena. The Brisbane International is a tune-up event for this year’s Australian Open, which begins January 18.

 

HIGH INTENSITY FINAL KOSTYUK went hard early by attacking Sabalenka’s second serve,clawingbackanearlybreak with sublime drop shots that briefly rattled the world’s topranked player. However, the Belorussian’s relentless intensity and matchsmarts proved decisive as she exploited the oppressive Brisbane humiditywith punishing baseline rallies to clinch the opening set in 40 minutes. As Kostyuk wilted under the physicalstrain,Sabalenka accelerated in the second set.

 

With a mix of raking ground strokes and deceptive drop shots, she forced a mounting error count from the Ukrainian toclose out the match without dropping a set all week. FROSTY POST-MATCH ATMOSPHERE AFTER sealing the victory, Sabalenka looked down the court at Kostyuk and kissed both biceps -alikely nod to previous comments by the Ukranian that she possessed higher testosterone levels than other players. Kostyuk has said the comments made in an interview last year had been taken out of context, but further the tensions between the pair since the Ukranian’s refusal to shake Sabalenka’s hand after a match at the French Open in 2023.

 

The exchange resulted in a frosty post-match presentation. During the trophy ceremony, Kostyuk spoke passionately abouther home land but not ably declined to mention Sabalenka by name. “I want to say a few words about Ukraine,”Kostyuk said. “I play every day with a pain in my heart. There are thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now, it’sminus 20 degrees outside right now, so it’s very, very painful to live this reality every day. “I was incredibly moved and happy to see so many Ukrainian fans and flags here this week … Slava Ukraini.”

 

Sabalenka, meanwhile, congratulated Kostyuk, stating she hoped they would meetin another final soon. She also took a cheeky dig at her boyfriend Georgios Frangulis during her victory speech. “Hopefully soon I will call you somehow else,” Sabalenka said looking at Frangulis in the player’sbox.“That just put extra pressure, right?” Later Sunday, top-seeded Daniil Medvedev played Brandon Nakashima in the final of the men’s tournament at Brisbane. The former No 1-ranked Medvedev is seeking his 22nd career title, while it will be Nakashima’s first ATP Tour final in four years.