Aryna Sabalenka is the 2025 Brisbane International champion after surviving a major scare by coming back from a set down to beat 107th-ranked qualifier Polina Kudermetova 4-6 6-3 6-2.
When the final started, there wasn’t anything particularly surprising as the top seed claimed a break and jumped to an early 3-1 lead and also had two break points in the fifth game for a double-break lead.
But then, the Belarusian’s series of unforced errors started while the Russian qualifier upped her level.
And after Kudermetova earned breaks in the sixth and 10th games, she ended up stealing the first set from the world No. 1 – who committed 21 unforced errors in the opener.
Down by a set, Sabalenka could have also found herself down by a break in the second set but managed to save a break point in the fourth game before taking the Russian’s serve in the fifth and ninth games to send the match into a decider.
After sealing the second set, the three-time Grand Slam winner continued in the same rhythm in the decider as she broke Kudermetova three times to complete her comeback.
Aryna Sabalenka© Brisbane International/X – Fair Use
Sabalenka makes amends for the brutal 2024 Brisbane final defeat
12 months earlier, Elena Rybakina crushed the Belarusian 6-0 6-3 in the Brisbane final.
When the 26-year-old returned to the tournament this year, she admitted that she wasn’t happy with how her last Brisbane run finished and she wanted to make it right this year.
“I have a lot of great memories from here and just can’t wait to start playing. Not the result I wanted at the end, but I’ll try my best this year,” Sabalenka said in her pre-tournament presser.
Now that she has started her 2025 season with a triumph, the world No. 1 now has 18 titles in her collection.
Next up for Saballenka will be defending title at the Australian Open.
Tennis World USA