World number one Aryna Sabalenka has secured her place in the final of the Brisbane International for the third year running, after a straight-sets victory over Karolina Muchova. The Belarusian star will face Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk in Sunday's championship match.
Sabalenka's Commanding Path to the Final
Sabalenka demonstrated her formidable power and focus at Pat Rafter Arena, overcoming the Czech player 6-3, 6-4. The top seed clinched the match on her fourth match point, sealing the deal when a Muchova shot landed long. This followed a dominant performance on Friday where she avenged last year's Australian Open final loss to Madison Keys, breaking the American's serve five consecutive times.
"I always try to stay in the present," Sabalenka remarked after her semi-final win. "I worked really hard and each match against her is just another opportunity to get the win. I'm super happy that today was the day. She is such a great player and I always enjoy battles against her."
Kostyuk's Stunning Run Continues
Awaiting Sabalenka is the in-form Marta Kostyuk, who produced a stunning upset to reach her first WTA 500 final. The Ukrainian dismantled fourth seed Jessica Pegula 6-0, 6-3, marking her third consecutive victory over a top-10 ranked opponent. This remarkable streak is made more impressive by her previous record of just one win in five attempts against Pegula.
Alcaraz Draws First Blood in Rivalry with Sinner
In a separate exhibition event in South Korea, the world's top two male players provided a thrilling preview of their burgeoning rivalry. Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, ranked number one, edged out Italy's Jannik Sinner 7-5, 7-6(6) in the Hyundai Card Super Match at Inspire Arena in Incheon.
The hard-court contest, which both players chose over traditional Australian Open warm-up tournaments, featured two tightly contested sets. Alcaraz held his nerve at crucial moments, extending his dominance in their head-to-head record after winning four of their six meetings last year.
The match included a memorable moment of levity when, in the fifth game of the second set, play was interrupted. Alcaraz engaged in a rally with a young fan who was temporarily handed Sinner's racket, while the Italian sat in the spectator's seat. The fan even hit a forehand winner, though it didn't prevent Alcaraz from ultimately securing the game and closing out the match in a tie-break.
Both Sabalenka and Alcaraz will now turn their attention to the Australian Open, which begins on 18 January, with significant momentum behind them.
