Aryna Sabalenka walked back onto Pat Rafter Arena with the same fierce energy she carried last year - once again, Brisbane belonged to her. In a commanding display of power and poise, the world number one dispatched Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3 to claim her 22nd career WTA title, inching even closer to two superstars of the sport: Venus Williams and Iga Swiatek.

For the second straight season, Sabalenka lifted the Brisbane International trophy, proving that her dominance on Australian soil is no coincidence. And in doing so, she added yet another milestone to her already glittering resume, now sitting third among active players in career titles - behind only Venus’ 49 and Swiatek’s 25.

It took just 1 hour and 18 minutes for Aryna Sabalenka to close out the final, but the significance of the victory will last much longer. With her latest triumph, Sabalenka moved past compatriot Victoria Azarenka’s tally of 21 titles, securing the outright third-most titles among active WTA players. But that wasn’t the only statistic to make waves.

Sabalenka has now also recorded 75 match wins as the world number one, becoming only the ninth player since 1990 to reach that mark. Even more remarkable? She has taken 92 matches to get there - the fewest alongside former world number one Ashleigh Barty.

From precision serving to fearless baseline aggression, Aryna Sabalenka’s style has always been designed for dominance. Now the numbers are catching up to the narrative.

With Brisbane behind her, Sabalenka now shifts her focus to the upcoming AO - and she does so with confidence soaring. But what did she say after this incredible win against the Ukrainian star Marta Kostyuk?

Aryna Sabalenka and Marta Kostyuk praised each other after the epic Brisbane final

The Brisbane International final wasn’t just a showdown between two of the most powerful hitters on the women’s tour - it was a masterclass in respect, resilience, and sportsmanship. For Marta Kostyuk, the journey to the championship match was already a breakthrough week. She had defeated Jessica Pegula and rising star Mirra Andreeva, earning two of the biggest wins of her season - and setting the stage for a high-voltage final against Aryna Sabalenka.

In her post-match conference, Kostyuk gave a candid and insightful breakdown of the challenge Sabalenka presented. “I would say Aryna was very powerful today. I mean, some serves she was serving, I was, like, wow, it was 175 kilometres per hour wide serve.” She admitted her usual tactics weren’t clicking on the day.

“My forehand slice on the return wasn’t working that well today, and I felt like she would get the advantage in the rally very quick, so I didn’t want to give her that opportunity. I mean, I was trying different things, and unfortunately, this slice also wasn’t working well today, like I missed most of them. I wasn’t in the winning position today. So it was difficult. But yeah, I mean, I tried different things.”

She explained that Sabalenka’s shots exploded through the court in a way that limited her ability to build points. “She’s been really, really good today retrieving these balls. Like, even when they were going in, it was incredible speed. I actually want to know, there were some points I want to know what was the speed of the ball, because it felt like we were hitting 150 kilometers per hour, which was crazy.”

Due to the political tensions, these two players didn’t shake hands at the net. But that didn’t stop Aryna Sabalenka from offering heartfelt praise for her opponent in her victory speech. With the trophy in her hands, she said, “First of all, I want to start by congratulating Marta and her team for an incredible start of the season. I wish you all the best, and this season it seems like it’s going to be great tennis, and I hope we are going to meet each other many more times in the finals to show great tennis.”

It was a moment of mutual appreciation - proof that even in complicated circumstances, respect can shine through. Will this victory in Brisbane give her an edge in Melbourne? Well, Aryna Sabalenka isn’t yet ready to accept the favorite label at the 2026 AO. However, she has assured her fans that she’ll fight and do her best to go as far as possible. Do you think she can bring home her third AO title in 2026?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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