In a rematch of last year’s Australian Open final, Elena Rybakina halted Aryna Sabalenka‘s impressive 15-0 winning streak on Australian soil, claiming the Brisbane International title with a commanding 6-0 6-3 victory.
Sabalenka, the world No.2, had commenced the prior season by triumphing at the Adelaide International and securing her inaugural Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. Continuing her dominant form this year, she extended her winning streak at the Brisbane International, not conceding a set en route to the WTA 500 tournament final. However, Rybakina emerged as the standout performer of the week, securing her sixth career title by overshadowing Sabalenka in the title clash.
Aryna Sabalenka after losing to Rybakina in Brisbane Final:
“I don’t know where to start. First of all Elena… wow. Thank you for those 3 games at least. We made it look like a fight.” ???? pic.twitter.com/EliWeanqYD
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 7, 2024
Reflecting on the match, Sabalenka humorously remarked, “That was an interesting match,” acknowledging her struggle after winning just seven points on her serve during a challenging 25-minute first set. “Thanks for those three games. At least we made it look like a fight.”
Despite the lopsided score, Rybakina showed respect for her opponent, acknowledging Sabalenka’s prowess, stating, “Despite the score, it’s always tough to play against you.” Notably, despite this defeat, Sabalenka maintains the edge in their head-to-head encounters, leading Rybakina 5-3 in their matchups.
