Victorious over Karolina Muchova in the semi-final, the world number 1 will challenge Marta Kostyuk to retain her title in the Australian city.
The force of habit. World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka authoritatively dismissed the Czech Karolina Muchova (20th) 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday in the semi-finals in Brisbane where she will play against the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk for her third final in a row.
One week before the start of the Australian Open (January 18-February 1), the first Grand Slam tournament of the year where she will aim for a third title in four years, the Belarusian was impressive on Saturday – as since the start of the tournament – against an opponent who had beaten her in their last three meetings.
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“She’s given me problems a few times (in the past). So I’m happy to have been focused from the start today (Saturday) and to have been able to play so well to put enormous pressure on him and win in two straight sets.”commented Sabalenka. She did not lose a set in the tournament, was uncompromising with each of her opponents and ensures she will play “better and better” match after match.
Kostyuk écrase Pegula
“It’s very important before arriving in Melbourne, to reach this level and play very good matches against very good opponents”added Sabalenka who had highlighted at the start of the competition that seven of the ten best players in the world were in this first table of the year. However, of this elite, she is the only one to have reached the final.
Finalist in 2024 and winner last year, the 27-year-old player will indeed face Kostyuk (26th) in the final on Sunday, who was single-handedly responsible for removing three players from the Top 10: on Saturday, she did not leave the slightest chance to the American Jessica Pegula (6th), beaten 6-0, 6-3 in 55 minutes.
Previously, the 23-year-old Ukrainian had beaten the Russian Mirra Andreeva (9th) in the quarterfinals and the American Amanda Anisimova (3rd) in the eighth.
