Sabalenka wins second straight Brisbane International title

World number one Aryna Sabalenka continued her commanding start to the 2025 season by capturing the Brisbane International title for the second year in a row, defeating Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6–4, 6–3 in a final that underlined her status as the player to beat heading into Melbourne.

The Belarusian wrapped up the contest in just over an hour, producing a composed and aggressive performance that never allowed Kostyuk to settle. By the end of the week, Sabalenka had not dropped a single set, a statement of intent with the Australian Open only days away.

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Brisbane has increasingly become Sabalenka’s personal stage, and her latest triumph further strengthened her reputation as one of the tour’s most reliable hard-court performers. The win also marked another important milestone in her preparation for a tournament where she has already lifted the trophy twice in the past four years.

A champion in full control

From the opening games of the final, Sabalenka imposed herself with heavy baseline hitting and precise serving. Kostyuk, who had enjoyed one of the best weeks of her career by knocking out three top-10 players en route to the final, struggled to match the pace and consistency coming from the other side of the net.

Sabalenka faced minimal pressure on serve, saving the few break points she allowed and dictating most of the rallies with her trademark power. Even when Kostyuk tried to vary the tempo, the world number one showed improved patience and touch, an area she has been working on as part of her evolution as a player.

After lifting the trophy, Sabalenka reflected on her form and confidence.

She said the week had been about proving her level every day and making sure she was ready for the challenges ahead. With the Australian Open next on the calendar, her focus is now firmly on going one step further than last year, when she finished runner-up after winning the title in both 2023 and 2024.

More than just power

What stood out most in Brisbane was not just Sabalenka’s ability to hit through opponents, but her growing all-court game. Throughout the tournament she mixed in slices, net approaches and defensive skills, making her far less predictable.

She explained that she has been working on adding more variety so she is not always relying on raw power, and the results were clearly visible in Brisbane. That added flexibility will be vital as she faces tougher tests in Melbourne, where the margins are far smaller in the later rounds.

Kostyuk’s strong run

Despite the defeat, the week was still a positive one for Marta Kostyuk. The Ukrainian produced some of the best tennis of her career to reach the final, earning impressive victories over elite opponents and proving she belongs among the game’s rising forces.

However, in the final she found Sabalenka’s serve and depth too difficult to handle. Her own normally dependable delivery deserted her at key moments, allowing the top seed to keep control of the match from start to finish.

Tension beyond the tennis

As in previous meetings between players from Ukraine and Belarus, there was no handshake at the end of the match. Kostyuk used the trophy ceremony to speak about the ongoing war in her country, highlighting the suffering of people back home during winter.

Sabalenka made it clear she was focused solely on competing as an athlete and respected that players have their own views and positions. For her, the job was to go out and win, regardless of who was on the other side of the net.

Eyes on Melbourne

With Brisbane now secured, Sabalenka turns her attention to the Australian Open, where she will again be among the favourites. Her dominant run in Queensland has given her both momentum and confidence, and few players arrive in Melbourne in better form.

If her performance in Brisbane is any indication, Sabalenka is ready to challenge for a third Australian Open crown in four years, and possibly add another chapter to what is already becoming one of the most impressive hard-court runs in modern women’s tennis.

SportsLigue