In Brisbane on January 11 (NationPress), World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has once again claimed her Brisbane International title, triumphing over Marta Kostyuk with a score of 6-4, 6-3 in just 1 hour and 18 minutes at Pat Rafter Arena on Sunday.

The Belarusian athlete secured the trophy without losing a single set throughout the tournament. This victory marks her fifth title in Australia and her 22nd overall in her career, placing her ahead of Victoria Azarenka for the third-most WTA Tour titles among current players, following Venus Williams and Iga Swiatek.

"This is incredibly special... I'm thrilled to kick off the season on such a positive note. I'm pleased with the level I maintained throughout the week," she expressed.

Sabalenka has now become one of just three women to successfully defend the season-opening WTA 500 title, joining the ranks of Serena Williams and Karolina Pliskova in this prestigious achievement. Furthermore, she ranks third among active players for the most tournament wins, only behind Venus Williams (with 49) and Iga Swiatek (with 25), according to WTA statistics.

Sabalenka set the pace early, jumping to a 3-0 lead in the first set. However, Kostyuk rallied, winning three consecutive games to equalize at 3-all. Yet, the 23-year-old's resurgence was short-lived as Sabalenka intensified her game, converting the second of five break points to clinch the first set after 40 minutes, as reported by WTA.

With the momentum on her side, Sabalenka seized control in the second set, winning six consecutive games and establishing a commanding 3-0 lead. She showcased her skill with a drop shot followed by a crosscourt forehand winner to go up 4-1, eventually serving out the match with ease.

"First and foremost, I want to congratulate Marta and her team on a fantastic start to the season. I wish you all the best for the rest of the year. It looks to be an exciting tennis season, and I hope we meet in many more finals," said Sabalenka, who remains undefeated against the Ukrainian in their five encounters.

Having secured her first title of 2026, Sabalenka now shifts her focus to the Australian Open, where she is the defending runner-up after last year’s final loss to Keys. She will enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed, aiming for a third title in Melbourne.

Meanwhile, Kostyuk is set to return to the Top 20 in the WTA Rankings on Monday, indicating her potential for a stronger performance at the Australian Open compared to last year’s third-round exit against Paula Badosa.