In Brisbane, Sabalenka reaffirms her supremacy and wins her second tennis title without losing sets

In the early hours of January 11, 2026, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, current number 1 in the world, secured the second Brisbane International championship by defeating Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk. The dominant victory, with splits of 6/4 and 6/3 in just 1h18, solidifies the tennis player’s excellent start to the season, as she did not concede a single set throughout the tournament.

The performance in Brisbane demonstrates the physical and mental shape of the athlete, who is fully prepared to defend her title in Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season. Sabalenka reaffirmed her favoritism with a display of strength and consistency, characteristics that took her to the top of the world rankings.

In turn, Marta Kostyuk, who was the big revelation of the week at Austrália, demonstrated resilience throughout the championship. Contudo, the award ceremony was marked by a notable incident, with the Ukrainian refusing to greet her opponent and giving an emotional speech about the situation in her country.

Dominant path to title in Brisbane

Desde the start of the 2026 Brisbane International, Aryna Sabalenka has set a standard of excellence unattainable for her opponents, sailing through every stage of the tournament without dropping a single set. Sua’s journey included an important rematch against Madison Keys, whom he overcame after losing in the previous year’s Australian Open final.

The Belarusian tennis player displayed a complete arsenal of powerful shots, precise serve and agile movement on the synthetic court. Essa consistency in all games was crucial to their victory, demonstrating rigorous preparation and an unwavering focus to succeed in the challenges ahead.

Preparing for Australian Open

The achievement of Brisbane International is a powerful indication of Aryna Sabalenka’s potential for the next challenges, notably Australian Open. Historicamente, preparatory tournaments like the one in Brisbane are crucial for athletes to adjust their game and gain competition rhythm before Grand Slams.

Para Sabalenka, winning without dropping sets serves as a validation of your strategy and training, as well as a significant boost in your confidence. The ability to maintain such a high level of performance from the beginning of the season is a determining factor for success in a Grand Slam, where the physical and mental demands are high. The Belarusian will be seeking her third Grand Slam title and second consecutive Melbourne.

Marta Kostyuk’s surprising journey in the tournament

Marta Kostyuk emerged as one of the biggest highlights of the Brisbane International, surprising the tennis community with his exemplary performance. The young Ukrainian, just 23 years old, eliminated three players from the world’s top 10 — Amanda Anisimova, Mirra Andreeva and Jessica Pegula — in her campaign towards the final, demonstrating a remarkable rise.

Essa series of impressive victories not only took her to her first WTA 500 tournament final, but also secured her entry into the top 20 female players in the world in the WTA rankings, a significant milestone in her career. The determination and talent displayed by Kostyuk promise a bright future on the professional circuit. Sua ability to overcome more experienced and ranked opponents reflects an important technical and tactical development.

Records and achievements of Aryna Sabalenka

With the title in Brisbane, Aryna Sabalenka brought the number of achievements in her professional career to 22, a feat that places her ahead of Victoria Azarenka among active Belarusian players and just behind icons like Venus Williams and Iga Swiatek on the global contemporary tennis scene.

Este was also his 19th trophy lifted on synthetic courts, a type of surface where his power stands out significantly. Além of this, the victory represents the sixth title at WTA 500 level, underlining her consistency in highly prestigious tournaments before the Grand Slams. Na Austrália, his affinity with the public and the playing conditions have already earned him five achievements in his career. The leadership in the WTA rankings, which will be 73 weeks from the next update, with 65 of them consecutive since October 21, 2024, attests to its hegemony in women’s tennis.

Political tension and the appeal of Kostyuk

The awards ceremony in Brisbane was the scene of a moment of great tension, reflecting the geopolitical conflict between Ucrânia and Rússia, which also has a direct impact on Bielorrússia. Marta Kostyuk reiterated its stance of not greeting players from countries that formally support the Russian invasion, like Bielorrússia.

The Ukrainian tennis player made a point of requesting separate photos with the trophies, avoiding any direct interaction with Aryna Sabalenka. In his speech, Kostyuk used the visibility to call for attention to the war, describing the daily pain experienced by thousands of Ukrainians who face a lack of electricity and hot water in temperatures of -20 degrees

Ela expressed her emotion at seeing so many Ukrainian flags during the tournament week, a sign of support that consoles her amid adversity. The situation of her sister, who sleeps with three blankets due to the intense cold, was a personal and striking example of the widespread suffering in her country, reiterating the seriousness of the conflict and its humanitarian impact.

The strategic role of Brisbane International

The Brisbane International is recognized as a strategic tournament on the world tennis circuit, serving as an essential platform for athletes to start the season. Sua position on the calendar, in the weeks leading up to Australian Open, makes it a thermometer for the playing conditions and the level of preparation of the competitors.