World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka prepared for her Australian Open title defense with a hard-fought victory over Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova in the final of the Brisbane International.
After a rocky start, where she dropped serve twice and lost the first set 4-6, the 26-year-old Belarusian rallied to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win against the world No. 107.
Sabalenka had fallen to Elena Rybakina in last year’s Brisbane final before going on to win the Australian Open for the second consecutive time.
The year’s first Grand Slam begins at Melbourne Park on Sunday, January 12.
Sabalenka struggled early, but came out strong in the second set, where Kudermetova was forced to save break points in her opening service game.
The pressure mounted, and a well-placed drop shot gave Sabalenka a crucial break for a 3-2 lead. From there, Sabalenka dominated, forcing a deciding set.
An early break in the third set sealed the win for Sabalenka, marking her first title of the year.
The victory not only boosts her confidence heading into the Australian Open but also serves as a timely reminder of her resilience and ability to perform under pressure, qualities she will surely need to defend her Melbourne crown.
