Elena Rybakina secured her sixth profession title with a commanding 6-0, 6-3 victory over top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka, clinching the Brisbane International as a super preparation for the primary main of 2024.
Sabalenka, who had received 5 of her seven earlier conferences towards the fourth-seeded Rybakina, had no reply Sunday to the world No. 4’s laser-like groundstrokes and deft touches on the web as Rybakina dominated the ultimate and stamped her credentials as one of many favorites for the upcoming Australian Open.
Almost a yr after contesting the Australian Open last, the place Sabalenka beat Rybakina in a good three-setter, the tables have been turned dramatically because the 2022 Wimbledon winner broke Sabalenka 3 times in a one-sided first set of simply 24 minutes on Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane.
The top-seeded Sabalenka lastly received on the scoreboard when she broke serve within the ninth sport, however Rybakina broke again instantly for a 3-1 lead within the second.
Sabalenka held serve for the primary time within the match within the eleventh sport, but it surely was too late as Rybakina nervelessly closed out the win on her first match level alternative when the reigning Australian Open champion pushed her attacking forehand vast.
It capped a dominant week for Rybakina, who conceded simply 15 video games throughout 5 straight-set wins and was the 24-year-old’s sixth profession title and first since Indian Wells final yr.
“I’d like to say congrats, Aryna, for a great week and great season last year and hopefully we meet in Melbourne,” Rybakina said. “Despite the rating, it’s all the time robust to play towards you; we all the time push one another.”
The loss ended Sabalenka’s streak of 15 wins on Australian soil, together with a title run in Adelaide final yr earlier than her Grand Slam breakthrough at Melbourne Park, however the world No. 2 made gentle of a uncommon heavy defeat.
“I don’t know where to start … that was an interesting match, great job. Thank you for those three games to at least make it look like a fight,” Sabalenka said post-match. “Couple of phrases to my workforce – you probably did a nasty job at present. 6-0 6-3, that’s all of your fault guys.
“It is how it is. We showed some great tennis and hopefully, we’ll do better at the Australian Open.”
The last was the primary to function the highest two seeds in Brisbane since 2015, when No. 1 Maria Sharapova held off No. 2 Ana Ivanovic in three units.
The males’s last between top-seeded Holger Rune and second-seeded Grigor Dimitrov might be performed later Sunday.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
