Aryna Sabalenka made a flawless start to her 2025 WTA Tour season, securing her second Brisbane International title. The victory marked her fourth trophy in Australia since 2023.
In a thrilling women’s singles final, Sabalenka battled back from a set down to defeat 21-year-old qualifier Polina Kudermetova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, clinching her 18th career title.
The Belarusian had previously won her first Brisbane title in 2023, when the event was relocated to Adelaide. On that occasion, she triumphed over another qualifier, Linda Noskova.
Kudermetova, who had been on an impressive run, was chasing an eighth consecutive win at the Queensland Tennis Centre.
She had previously defeated seeded players such as Liudmila Samsonova and Daria Kasatkina to reach the final, but she found herself up against a determined World No.1 in Sabalenka.
“I want to congratulate Polina on an impressive week, from the qualifiers all the way to the final. I’m sure there are many more to come. You are definitely doing the right things,” Sabalenka said.
“Honestly, I really want to know the speed of our shots today. I think we definitely beat the record. It was a pretty aggressive game…”
Reflecting on her time in Brisbane, Sabalenka expressed her gratitude. “Always a fun time in Brisbane. Thank you, Brisbane, for having me. To all the fans, thank you for your support.
I felt your support from the very beginning of the week to the very last point. I truly appreciate it, and that’s why I love playing in Australia and Brisbane. You guys are amazing,” she added.
Kudermetova, who came through qualifying, had already made history by reaching her first WTA final. During the tournament, she achieved her first Top 10 win by rallying to beat World No.9 Daria Kasatkina 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the Round of 16.
Kudermetova went on to defeat Wang Xinyu, Liudmila Samsonova, Ashlyn Krueger, and Anhelina Kalinina, winning five consecutive matches for the first time in her career.
For 26-year-old Sabalenka, the triumph in Brisbane marked a significant milestone in her career, with 16 of her 18 titles now coming on hard courts.
These include two at Melbourne Park, one at Adelaide, and now the Brisbane title. Last year, she was narrowly defeated by Elena Rybakina in the final.
Sabalenka’s focus now shifts to Melbourne, where she will defend her Australian Open title for the third consecutive year.
If successful, she would become the first woman since Martina Hingis, who won the event three times in a row from 1997 to 1999, to achieve such a feat.
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