BRISBANE, Australia – Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan has trounced defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-0, 6-3 to storm to the Brisbane International title on Sunday.
The Kazakh world No 4 spent less than five hours on court while notching five impressive victories in the Queensland capital.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion streaked to a 5-0 lead after just 18 minutes against Sabalenka, who had bossed her way to the final. The pair will remain among the favourites in Melbourne from next Sunday but big-serving Rybakina’s stocks have soared as she chases a second major title.
“I´d like to say congrats Aryna for a great week and great season last year and hopefully we meet in Melbourne,” Rybakina said according to AP. “Despite the score, it´s always tough to play against you, we always push each other.”
The loss ended Sabalenka´s streak of 15 wins on Australian soil, including a title run in Adelaide last year before her Grand Slam breakthrough at Melbourne Park, but the world No.2 made light of a rare heavy defeat.
“I don´t know where to start … that was an interesting match, great job, thank you for those three games to at least make it look like a fight,” Sabalenka said post-match. “Couple of words to my team – you did a bad job today. 6-0 6-3, that´s all your fault guys.
The top-seeded Sabalenka finally got on the scoreboard when she broke serve in the ninth game, but Rybakina broke back immediately for a 3-1 lead in the second.
Sabalenka held serve for the first time in the match in the 11th game but it was too little too late as Rybakina nervelessly closed out the win on her first match point opportunity when the reigning Australian Open champion pushed her attacking forehand wide.
It capped a dominant week for Rybakina, who conceded just 15 games across five straight-set wins and was the 24-year-old sixth career title and first since Indian Wells last year.
Elsewhere, Coco Gauff battled past Elina Svitolina 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3 in the Auckland Classic final on Sunday to retain her title, and will head to the Australian Open brimming with confidence as she targets a second Grand Slam crown.
Gauff, who burst onto the scene at Wimbledon five years ago, enjoyed a stellar 2023 as the 19-year-old American won her first major trophy at the US Open in September to reach a career-high world ranking of number three.
The Auckland top seed continued to build momentum in the new season by winning the tune-up for the Jan. 14-28 Australian Open, losing only one set after a thorough test in the final by twice Melbourne Park quarter-finalist Svitolina.
“This is my first time ever having to defend a title, so I’m really happy I was able to do it today,” said Gauff, who claimed her seventh career WTA singles trophy.
“This year’s tournament was a lot different,” she added according to Reuters.
“Last year it rained almost every single match and we were playing indoors with just a few people watching so it’s really cool to play in front of a packed crowd almost every match.”
Both players dropped serve twice in the opening set before Gauff’s level dipped slightly as she squandered two set points at 5-3 to allow the big-hitting Svitolina to claw her way back and take the early lead in the match via the tie-break.
But Gauff responded strongly to breeze through the next set and level the contest at one set apiece, and held her nerve after grabbing the crucial break in the eighth game of the decider to close out the victory.
“It’s been a really great experience to play for the first time here,” said Ukraine’s Svitolina, who returned to the tour last April following the birth of her daughter with fellow tennis player Gael Monfils.
“I want to congratulate Coco and her team for a great start to the year. Good luck at the Australian Open.
“I’ve been enjoying myself here playing great matches. Tough loss, of course,” added Svitolina, who steadily found her best level with stunning runs to the French Open quarter-finals and the Wimbledon semi-finals last year.
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