World primary turns into back-to-back champion on the Brisbane Worldwide with a straight-sets victory over Marta Kostyuk.
Printed On 11 Jan 2026
World primary Aryna Sabalenka brushed apart Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3 within the Brisbane Worldwide closing on Sunday to retain the title with out shedding a set forward of her bid to reclaim the Australian Open title this month.
Kostyuk had crushed high 10 gamers Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva and Amanda Anisimova on her technique to the ultimate however was no match for the sheer energy of the US Open champion.
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Sabalenka is decided to win again the Australian Open title she relinquished final 12 months, and her efficiency within the fierce Brisbane warmth suggests she will likely be laborious to beat at Melbourne Park this month.
“Thanks to my group for dealing with me. I’m actually the hardest one to deal with, and also you guys are the hardest folks on this planet for those who can deal with me,” she informed the group earlier than directing a remark at companion Georgios Frangulis in the stands.
“Thanks to my boyfriend. Hopefully, quickly I’ll name you one thing else, proper? Let’s simply put a bit of additional strain on, proper?”

Sabalenka overpowers Kostyuk
Sabalenka raced off to a 3-0 lead within the opening set earlier than coming a bit unstuck as her first serve abandoned her and her 23-year-old opponent feasted on her second.
There have been the acquainted hangdog expressions as Sabalenka raised her eyes to the skies in response to spraying a shot excessive and huge, but it surely didn’t final for lengthy.
Rallying at 3-3, Sabalenka lowered the variety of wild swings and heaped the strain on her Twenty sixth-ranked opponent with the sheer energy and accuracy of her strokes.
She shortly wrapped up the opening set and was quickly 3-0 up within the second after once more taking Kostyuk’s first service sport.
There was no method again for Kostyuk this time, and he or she confronted an actual battle simply to carry her serve thrice earlier than Sabalenka served out to safe her twenty second WTA title, sealing the deal when her opponent netted a return on her first championship level.
Kostyuk mentioned her ideas have been with the folks again dwelling in her war-torn nation.
“I play every single day with a ache in my coronary heart, and there are millions of people who find themselves with out gentle and heat water,” she mentioned.
“Proper now it’s minus 20 levels [Celsius] outdoors, so it’s very, very painful to reside this actuality every single day. It’s very popular right here in Brisbane, so it’s tough to think about this, however my sister is sleeping below three blankets due to how chilly it’s at dwelling.”
Sabalenka will likely be gunning for a 3rd Australian Open and fifth main title on the 12 months’s first Grand Slam, which begins on January 18.
