Champion in Brisbane, Sabalenka is ready to try for her 3rd Australian Open title in a row

World number one, Aryna Sabalenka had a scare at the beginning of the decision of the WTA 500 in Brisbane, but managed to overcome Polina Kudermetova, who had to compete in the qualifiers, and won by 2 sets to 1 (4/6, 6/3 and 6/2) to secure the 18th title of his career.

“I definitely feel really good,” Sabalenka said. “Mentally and physically I’m ready for the Australian Open. Happy with the way the week went. Winning this trophy in preparation for a Grand Slam is important.”

It was Sabalenka’s fourth title on Australian soil. She is the current two-time Australian Open champion and, at 26, is trying to be the first woman to win the first Grand Slam of the season since Martina Hingis, who dominated the tournament from 1997 to 1999.

Ranking only 107th, Polina Kudermetova is 21 years old and had to compete in the qualifiers to reach the first final of her career. Younger sister of Veronika Kudermetova, former world number 9, Polina was the only tennis player in Brisbane to win a set against Sabalenka.

“I had a break in the first set”, said the leader of the ranking. “I was trying to play conservatively, but it wasn’t working. It was the moment when everything clicked for her, when she hit every ball.”

Clara Tauson won her third career title and first since 2021 after Japanese Naomi Osaka, former world number 1, withdrew from the WTA 250 final in Auckland due to an abdominal injury.

In her first decision since 2022, Osaka closed the first set 6/4, but then requested a medical timeout and decided to leave the game. “That’s not how you want to win any match, especially the final,” Tauson said. “I felt like I had more sneakers to show today.”

It was the first game between the two tennis players. Tauson is 22 years old, 50th in the world and, in 2019, she was the first Dane to finish at the top of the youth world rankings.