Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic began their 2025 seasons in spectacular fashion, claiming victory at the Brisbane International on Sunday night. The duo captured the women’s and men’s singles titles respectively, setting an exciting tone for the year ahead in tennis.
World No. 1 Sabalenka faced a challenging start against Russia’s 107th-ranked Polina Kudermetova. Dropping the first set 4-6, Sabalenka showcased her resilience and championship mentality, rallying to win the next two sets 6-3, 6-2. The match concluded in one hour and 47 minutes, marking a significant comeback for the defending champion.
This victory extends Sabalenka’s winning streak in Australia to 12 matches. Remarkably, she has secured four of her last five tournaments in the country, including consecutive Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024. Out of her 18 career titles, 16 have been claimed on hard courts, underscoring her dominance on this surface.
“I felt all of the support from the very beginning of the week until the very last point. I really appreciate it, and that’s why I love playing in Australia and in Brisbane,” Sabalenka expressed with gratitude after her win.
Kudermetova, playing in her first career final after battling through qualifying rounds to her eighth match in Brisbane, displayed commendable determination. She leveled the first set at 3-3 after an early deficit and went on to claim the set. Despite an opportunity to break Sabalenka’s serve in the second set while leading 2-1, Kudermetova couldn’t capitalize, allowing Sabalenka to seize control.
The 21-year-old Kudermetova’s impressive run at the tournament is set to elevate her into the top 60 of the world rankings, marking a significant milestone in her burgeoning career.
Both athletes now turn their focus to Melbourne, with Sabalenka aiming to make history by becoming the first woman since Martina Hingis in the 1990s to win three consecutive Australian Open finals. Their performances in Brisbane have undoubtedly set the stage for an exhilarating season ahead.
Reference(s):
Aryna Sabalenka, Jiri Lehecka win Brisbane International titles
cgtn.com
