Sabalenka retains Brisbane International title

World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka captured back-to-back Brisbane International titles as she avoided becoming Marta Kostyuk’s latest top-10 scalp in yesterday’s final.

Sabalenka won 6-4 6-3 in one hour and 17 minutes to retain the trophy she had secured for the first time a year ago when beating Polina Kudermetova and did not drop a set all week.

Kostyuk had defeated Amanda Anisimova, Mirra Andreeva and Jessica Pegula in straight sets en route to the final but fell short against Sabalenka’s potent groundstrokes as her hopes of a second career title, after the ATX Open in March 2023, were dashed.

Sabalenka – who is now up to 22 titles, the third-most among active WTA players behind only Iga Swiatek (25) and Venus Williams (49) – will look to take this form into the Australian Open from January 18.

The Belarusian has reached the last three finals in Melbourne, beating Elena Rybakina in 2023 and then Zheng Quinwen a year later before losing to Madison Keys in 2025.

Sabalenka exacted an element of revenge on Keys this week in Brisbane by defeating the American 6-3 6-3 in the quarter-finals.