Sabalenka claims her second straight Brisbane title

Aryna Sabalenka went off to a good start to the year 2026, clinching her second straight Brisbane title.

In the decisive match, the world number one defeated Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, 6-4, 6-3.

The world number one made a confident start, racing to a 3-0 lead. Although Kostyuk fought her way back midway through the first set, Aryna remained in control of the match, clinching the Brisbane title for the second year running.

Aryna Sabalenka had won the 2025 Brisbane International final against Polina Kudermetova of Russia.

On her path to the final of this year’s tournament, Sabalenka did not drop a single set to her opponents. She defeated Spain’s Cristina Bucșa (World No. 50) 6-0, 6-1; Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea, 6-3, 6-3; USA’s Madison Keys, 6-3, 6-3; and the Czech Republic’s Karolína Muchová, 6-3, 6-4. A year ago in the Brisbane International final, Aryna Sabalenka won against Russia’s Polina Kudermetova, while in the 2024 final, she lost to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina.

Another Belarusian tennis player, Aliaksandra Sasnovich (World No. 113), won in the round of 64 against Russia’s Anna Blinkova (61) 7-5, 6-1. She was stronger than Denmark’s Clara Tauson (14) in the second round, winning 6-3, 6-3, but lost in the round of 16 to Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova (17) 4-6, 4-6. Sasnovich had entered the main draw through the qualifying rounds, defeating Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova (128) 6-2, 6-2, and Uzbekistan’s Maria Timofeeva (138) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Aryna Sabalenka now turns her focus to the Australian Open in Melbourne, running from 18 January to 1 February.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko congratulated Aryna Sabalenka on winning the Brisbane title.

President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus Viktor Lukashenko noted, in turn, that the world number one claimed her second straight title in Brisbane. “This court has yielded to you for the second year in a row, thanks to your utmost focus and determination, refined skill, and powerful drive. With your superb performance and excellent condition at the season’s outset, you have reaffirmed your standing as the top player and brought great joy to the Belarusian people, who support you and take pride in your accomplishments.

Press service of the NOC of Belarus

Photo by organizers