Brisbane International: Aryna Sabalenka beats Marta Kostyuk to win third title
“First of all, I would like to congratulate Marta and her team on an incredible start to the season. [Kostyuk bowed in response]”Sabalenka, who has not lost a set in five matches against the Ukrainian,” said.
“I wish you all the best of luck this season; it looks like it’s going to be great tennis and hopefully we’ll see each other a lot more in the finals.”
The 23-year-old Kostyuk held her own after calling off an early break of serve, but lost her serve again in the 10th game as Sabalenka increased her intensity and won the first set.
The 16th seed was aiming for just a second WTA singles title in her first final in two years and fourth overall, but her game collapsed under the weight of Sabalenka’s groundstrokes.
A break of serve at the start of the second set was enough for Sabalenka to claim world No. 26 and Kostyuk fired into the net on her first championship point.
Kostyuk struggled to hold back tears as he spoke to a crowd in Brisbane about conditions in Ukraine, where authorities are struggling to repair heating and water supplies damaged by Russian bombing.
“I would like to say a few words about Ukraine,” he said. “I play every day with a pain in my heart. Right now, there are thousands of people without light and warm water. It is minus 20 degrees outside, so it is very, very painful to live this reality every day.
“It’s very hot in Brisbane, so it’s hard to imagine, but my sister sleeps under three blankets because it’s so cold at home.”
Sabalenka’s 22nd WTA title was her first since capturing her fourth Grand Slam at the US Open in September.
Previously, Great Britain’s number one seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool were defeated by the third seeds Portuguese Francisco Cabral and Austrian Lucas Miedler in the men’s doubles final with sets of 6-3 3-6 10-8.
