Second-seed Aryna Sabalenka triumphantly clinched her eleventh profession WTA Tour singles title on Sunday, her first in nearly two years, after she decisively defeated qualifier Linda Noskova 6-2 7-6 (4) within the ladies’s ultimate on the Adelaide International.
In doing so, she ended a unprecedented run by the 18-year-old Noskova, who beat third-seeded Daria Kasatkina and former Australian Open champion Viktoria Azarenka in the primary draw on the way in which to her first ultimate.
Sabalenka did not drop a set all week and appeared set for one more snug win when she took out the primary set on Sunday. But Noskova was far more aggressive within the second, holding serve and placing strain on Sabalenka’s serve, particularly along with her strong backhand returns.
“I want to congratulate (Noskova) on an amazing week,” Sabalenka stated. “I think you’ll have a great future and 100 percent appear in many more finals.”
Sabalenka’s final single title got here in Madrid in May 2021, however she went and not using a championship in 2022 regardless of reaching three finals.
She ended the 12 months ranked fifth after qualifying for the season-ending WTA Finals in Fort Worth, the place she misplaced within the ultimate to Caroline Garcia.
Sabalenka has received three tournaments within the first week of a season after Shenzen in 2019 and Abu Dhabi in 2021.
The males’s ultimate between Novak Djokovic and Sebastian Korda of the U.S. takes place later Sunday.
