ADELAIDE, Australia – Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka opened the season with aplomb, taking the Adelaide International title without the loss of a set. It is Sabalenka’s first title since May of 2021.
Sabalenka claimed her 11th WTA Tour singles title when she overcame qualifier Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova 6-2 7-6 (4) in the final on Sunday.
Following a titleless 2022, Sabalenka is already back in the winner’s circle in the first week of 2023.
Sabalenka went 0-3 in finals last year, but she picked up momentum at the end of 2022 with a late-season qualification for the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, culminating with a runner-up performance to Caroline Garcia at the year-ending showpiece.
This week, in her very next event, No.2 seed Sabalenka fully recaptured her winning ways, charging through the 1-hour and 43-minute final to wrap up the tournament. Sabalenka claimed the trophy without the loss of a set all week.
It is the third time Sabalenka has won a title in the opening week of the season. She pulled off the same feat with Week 1 titles in both 2019 (Shenzhen) and 2021 (Abu Dhabi).
Despite the loss in the final, it was still a huge breakthrough week for World No.102 Noskova. The 18-year-old became the youngest finallist at a WTA 500-level event or higher since Caroline Wozniacki won the 2008 New Haven title at 18 years and 43 days old.
Noskova picked up her first two Top 10 wins over Daria Kasatkina and Ons Jabeur during the event, and the Czech will skyrocket into the Top 60 of Monday’s new singles rankings.
Sabalenka made her life easier when she got her first serve into play during the final, winning 93 percent of points starting with that shot (29-of-31). Sabalenka hit 12 aces and saved all three break points she faced in the match.
After both players dodged a pair of early break points, Sabalenka took control by breaking for 4-2 behind a powerful backhand. Sabalenka raced through the rest of the first set, dropping only one more point on her delivery as she deployed excellent serves and forehands.
Noskova, who exhibited exceptional composure despite playing in her first career final, kept the second set much closer, and the teen was two points away from leveling the match after slamming a return winner for deuce at 5-4. However, the second set eventually moved into a tiebreak.
In the breaker, Noskova gave Sabalenka a head start by firing two early double faults, and Sabalenka used that to her advantage, powering her way to 5-1. A winning passing shot gave Sabalenka triple championship point at 6-3, and she hit one last sterling serve on her second match point.
Sabalenka didn´t drop a set all week and seemed set for another comfortable win when she took out the first set on Sunday. But Noskova was much more competitive in the second, holding serve and putting pressure on Sabalenka´s serve, especially with her powerful backhand returns.
“I want to congratulate (Noskova) on an amazing week,” Sabalenka said. “I think you´re going to have a great future and 100 percent appear in many more finals.”
