BRISBANE: World number one Aryna Sabalenka prepared for a third Australian Open title in four years in worrying fashion by winning her second consecutive crown at the Brisbane International on Sunday.
Sabalenka scored a dominant 6-4, 6-3 victory over Marta Kostyuk in just 78 minutes.
“Every day you go out there and prove your level, and I think this week I did it very well,” Sabalenka said after a tournament in which she won the title without dropping a set.
Ahead of the Australian Open, which begins next Sunday, Sabalenka said: “The only thing I know is that I will be there, I will fight.”
Salablenka lost in the final at Melbourne Park last year to Madison Keys, having been the Australian Open champion in 2023 and 2024.
“I will do my best to go as far as possible,” Sabalenka said. “And do a little better than last year. That’s my goal.”
Kostyuk, world number 26, had a spectacular week, beating three top 10 players en route to the final.
But she had no response to Sabalenka’s power and the Ukrainian’s serve, so reliable in the early rounds, also exploded.
Sabalenka was rarely troubled on her own delivery and faced just three break points.
The 27-year-old Belarusian said she tried to introduce new elements into her game to not rely solely on power, and it paid off this week.
“I finally found tactile play,” she said. “I realized something and I kind of changed my style of play: now I’m not just an aggressive player, I can play at the net, I can be on defense, I can use my slice, I have a good touch.
“I’m super happy to see things coming together.”
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 country.
There was no handshake at the end of the final and in his speech during the trophy presentation, Kostyuk spoke about the situation in Ukraine.
“I play every day with pain in my heart and thousands of people are currently without electricity and hot water,” she said.
“It’s minus 20 degrees outside and it’s very painful to live this reality every day.”
Sabalenka said she was not concerned about Kostyuk’s attitude towards her.
“This is their position, what can I do?” ”, she asked. “When I go there, I think about my tennis and the things I have to do to get the victory.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s Marta Kostyuk or Jessica Pegula. I don’t have to prove anything. I go out there and just compete as an athlete.”
Kostyuk told reporters she was determined to keep what is happening in Ukraine in the public eye.
Published in Dawn, January 12, 2026
