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<\/p>\nSabalenka crowned back-to-back champion in Brisbane<\/p>\n
Aryna Sabalenka\u2019s charge to reclaim the Australian Open title is well under way, with the women\u2019s world No.1 winning the Brisbane International final in straight sets on Sunday night.<\/p>\n
Sabalenka defeated Ukraine\u2019s Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3 to claim back-to-back titles in Brisbane in a clinical performance that bodes well as she attempts to win her fifth grand slam singles title in Melbourne from next week.<\/p>\n
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Aryna Sabalenka celebrates winning a point against Marta Kostyuk.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Sabalenka was straight down to business as she broke Kostyuk in the Ukrainian\u2019s first service game to go 3-0 up in the opening set after just 12 minutes.<\/p>\n
Kostyuk was able to wrangle the break back to make it 3-3 after a shaky start that saw her serve come under pressure, but Sabalenka snagged a late break to take the first set 6-4 in 39 minutes.<\/p>\n
Kostyuk\u2019s campaign in Brisbane had been phenomenal to that point, with the world No.26 defeating three top 10 players \u2013 Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva and Amanda Anisimova \u2013 on her way to the final.<\/p>\n
But when the second set started much like the first, as Sabalenka surged to a 3-0 lead and took advantage of Kotyuk\u2019s weaker second serve, it was a matter of when, not if, Sabalenka would secure the championship.<\/p>\n
It took just 1 hour and 18 minutes for Sabalenka to wrap up the match, as Kostyuk joined Karolina Muchova, Madison Keys and Sorana Cirstea on the list of players Sabalenka tossed aside on her way to victory.<\/p>\n
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Ukrainian fans in the crowd at the women\u2019s Brisbane International final.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Kostyuk ignored Sabalenka \u2013 a Belarusian player \u2013 in her runners-up speech, instead taking the time to thank her own team, tournament organisers and volunteers before focusing on the ongoing war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to say a few words about Ukraine,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI play every day with a pain in my heart and there is thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now, it\u2019s minus 20 degrees outside, so it\u2019s very, very painful to live this reality every day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very hot here in Brisbane, so it\u2019s difficult to imagine this, but my sister is sleeping under three blankets because of how cold it is at home, so I was incredibly moved and happy to see so many Ukrainian fans and flags this week too.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Ukrainian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/e32cb918a034e6c5c87d29567ccd9666cbd6bc61.jpeg\")
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Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Sabalenka began her victory speech by acknowledging her opponent.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst of all, I want to start with congratulating Marta and her team on an incredible start to the season,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI wish you all the best this season \u2013 it seems like it\u2019s going to be great tennis and I hope that we\u2019re going to meet each other many more times in the finals to show great tennis.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sabalenka is seeking redemption in Melbourne after losing to Madison Keys in last year\u2019s final, and will head to the first grand slam of the year undefeated.<\/p>\n