Sabalenka comes from behind to defeat Kudermetova and win Brisbane title

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, aged 26, prepared for her title defense at the year's first Grand Slam by securing a hard-fought victory over Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova, aged 21, with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the Brisbane International on Sunday.

The Belarusian, currently ranked as the world number one, had been outperformed in last year's final by Elena Rybakina but went on to clinch her second consecutive title at Melbourne Park. In her match against Kudermetova, Sabalenka initially struggled, losing the first set after being broken twice.

Kudermetova faced early pressure on her serve in the second set but managed to withstand it, showcasing her aggressive play and powerful baseline shots that challenged Sabalenka's rhythm.

"That was really great tennis from her," remarked Sabalenka. "It was really aggressive. She has some variations and she was using it really well. She definitely deserved to be in the final. I'm pretty sure if she continues working the way she is, then she will be in the top 50 soon."

A well-placed drop shot allowed Sabalenka to break serve, and she regained her dominant form for the remainder of the set, pushing the match to a deciding third set, much to the excitement of the crowd at Pat Rafter Arena.

Demonstrating her skill, Sabalenka broke serve in the final set with a precise cross-court forehand winner and successfully fended off a late challenge from Kudermetova to secure her first title of the season.

She aims to become the first woman to win three consecutive Australian Open titles since Swiss player Martina Hingis achieved this feat from 1997 to 1999, and she will enter Melbourne Park with renewed confidence.

"I'm super happy to lift this trophy," Sabalenka expressed. "It's a really important tournament before heading into the Australian Open. The final match was a bit tricky; we were both over-hitting. I'm really curious about the average speed of our shots. It was a crazy match, and I'm really glad I got this win."

Czech athlete Jiri Lehecka secured the Brisbane men's title on Sunday after Reilly Opelka withdrew from the match due to an injury while behind 4-1 in the first set.

Opelka, who had previously caused an upset by defeating Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, seemed to be hampered by a wrist problem during his semi-final victory against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Standing at 6 feet 11 inches, Opelka had been sidelined for nearly two years due to wrist and hip injuries that required surgical intervention, making his return to the elite circuit only last season.