By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-4 6-3 in the Brisbane International final on Sunday to retain the title without losing a set ahead of her bid to reclaim the Australian Open title
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.
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.
“Thank you to my team for handling me. I’m really the toughest one to handle, and you guys are the toughest people in the world if you can handle me,” she told the crowd before directing a comment at partner Georgios Frangulis in the stands.
“Thank you to my boyfriend. Hopefully, soon I’ll call you something else, right? Let’s just put a bit of extra pressure on, right?”
Sabalenka will be gunning for a third Australian Open and fifth major title at the year’s first Grand Slam, which starts on January 18.
Meanwhile Elina Svitolina was tested by China’s Wang Xinyu in the Auckland Open final on Sunday but came through 6-3 7-6(6) to kick off her new season with her 19th WTA title.
Elsewhere Daniil Medvedev beat Brandon Nakashima 6-2 7-6(1) to lift the Brisbane Open title on Sunday, starting the 2026 season on a strong note in the buildup to the Australian Open.