World number one Aryna Sabalenka warmed up for a tilt at a third Australian Open title in four years in ominous fashion by winning her second successive Brisbane International crown on Sunday.
But one of her chief challengers Iga Swiatek copped a second straight loss, for the second time in a couple of months, in a worrying sign ahead of her bid for a career slam.
N. Tszyu vs Zerafa | Friday 16 Jan from 7pm AEDT | The trash talk and bitterness come to a head when Nikita Tszyu steps into the ring to face Michael Zerafa in one of the most anticipated fights in Australian boxing history. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
Swiatek, the world No.2, hadn’t lost consecutive matches in four years before dropping consecutive matches at the WTA finals last November.
Now after opening her United Cup with wins over Eva Lys, Suzan Lamens and Maya Joint – none of whom rank inside the world top 30 – Swiatek has lost twice in two days, first to Coco Gauff 6-4 6-2 and now to Belinda Bencic 3-6 6-0 6-3.
Despite having won six grand slam titles Swiatek has never even made the final at Melbourne Park, only twice getting out of the fourth round, with runs to the semi-finals in 2022 and 2025.
In contrast Sabalenka, who has now won 37 of her last 39 matches in Australia, brushed past Marta Kostyuk 6-4 6-3 in just 78 minutes in Brisbane.
“Every day you go out there and prove your level, and I think this week I did it really well,” said Sabalenka after a week in which she powered to the title without dropping a set.
Looking ahead to the Australian Open, which begins next Sunday, Sabalenka said: “The only thing I know is that I’ll be there, I’ll be fighting.”
Salablenka lost in the Melbourne Park final last year to Madison Keys, having been Australian Open champion in 2023 and 2024.
“I’ll do my best to go as far as possible,” said Sabalenka.
“And do a little bit better than last year. That’s my focus.”
Kostyuk, the world number 26, had enjoyed a spectacular week, beating three top 10 players on the way to the final.
But she had no answer to the power of Sabalenka and the Ukrainian’s serve, so reliable in the early rounds, also went off the boil.
Sabalenka was rarely troubled on her own delivery and faced only three break points.
There has been animosity between the two players in the past. Like many Ukraine players, Kostyuk refuses to shake hands with Russians or Belarusians because of the war in her homeland.
There was no handshake at the end of the Brisbane final and in her concession speech, Kostyuk brought up the situation in Ukraine.
“I play every day with a pain in my heart and there are thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now,” she said.
“It’s minus 20 degrees outside and it’s very painful to live this reality every day.”
Discussion about this post