World number one Aryna Sabalenka started her 2025 season strong by winning the Brisbane International title in a tough 4-6 6-3 6-2 match against Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova. The 26-year-old player from Belarus, who was the runner-up in Brisbane last year, demonstrated her preparedness for the upcoming Grand Slam events, where she aims to clinch her third consecutive title.
In the match, Sabalenka lost her serve twice in the first set but bounced back strongly in the later stages, reaffirming her status as a top contender for the upcoming Grand Slam tournament.
Kudermetova, currently ranked 107th in the world, had a remarkable run through the qualifiers to reach the final and is set to see a rise in her ranking to 57. Despite surprising the top seed by breaking her serve twice in the first set, Sabalenka made adjustments to her game plan and turned the match around.
Sabalenka faced challenges in the first set, winning only 65% of her first-serve points and committing 12 unforced errors. However, she adapted well, improving her first-serve percentage to 92% in the second set and reducing unforced errors to just two.
The turning point of the match occurred at 1-2 in the second set, where Sabalenka saved a crucial break point and went on to secure a decisive break for a 3-2 lead. She continued her strong play to force a deciding set.
A break early in the third set gave Sabalenka a significant advantage. Despite Kudermetova breaking back late in the match while Sabalenka was serving for the win, the Belarusian responded with determination and closed out the match in one hour and 47 minutes.
Sabalenka’s victory in Brisbane marks her 18th career title and a promising start to her 2025 season, setting the tone for her upcoming Australian Open title defense, which begins on January 12 at Melbourne Park. After finishing as the runner-up in Brisbane last year, Sabalenka bounced back to claim her second consecutive Australian Open title. This year, her journey to the Brisbane title showcased her dominance, defeating Renata Zarazua, Yulia Putintseva, Marie Bouzkova, and Mirra Andreeva before overcoming Kudermetova in the final.
