A tense and politically charged atmosphere overshadowed the women's final at the Brisbane International on Sunday, as world number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus successfully defended her title against Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk.
A Dominant Victory Amidst Rising Tensions
In a display of formidable power, Aryna Sabalenka secured a straight-sets victory, 6-4, 6-3, at the Pat Rafter Arena. This win marks her third consecutive appearance in the Brisbane final and her second straight championship at the event. The match itself was a physical contest, with Sabalenka leveraging the oppressive humidity to her advantage in punishing baseline rallies, ultimately clinching the opening set in 40 minutes.
Kostyuk started aggressively, targeting Sabalenka's second serve and using clever drop shots to recover an early break. However, the relentless intensity and tactical nous of the top seed proved too much. As Kostyuk began to wilt under the physical strain in the second set, Sabalenka accelerated, forcing errors with a mix of powerful groundstrokes and deft touches to close out the match. Sabalenka did not drop a single set throughout the entire tournament week.
A Pointed Celebration and a Chilly Aftermath
The most talked-about moment came immediately after match point. Sabalenka looked down the court at her defeated opponent and kissed both of her biceps. This gesture was widely interpreted as a direct response to previous remarks made by Kostyuk, who last year suggested Sabalenka possessed higher testosterone levels than other players on the WTA Tour.
The frosty exchange continued during the trophy presentation. Kostyuk refused to shake Sabalenka's hand, a repeat of her stance after their match at the 2023 French Open, which she attributes to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, supported by Belarus. In a passionate post-match speech, the 23-year-old Ukrainian spoke about the suffering in her homeland.
"I want to say a few words about Ukraine," Kostyuk said. "I play every day with a pain in my heart. There are thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now, it is -20ºC outside right now, so it is very, very painful to live this reality every day." She concluded with "slava Ukraini" (glory to Ukraine).
Sabalenka's Focused Response and Personal Dig
When asked about the handshake refusal, Sabalenka remained diplomatically detached. "It's their position. What can I do? I don't mind that. I don't care about that," she stated. "When I go into the match, it's all about tennis and sport... I have nothing to prove. I go out there and compete as an athlete." She did, however, congratulate Kostyuk and expressed hope they would meet in another final soon.
In lighter moments, Sabalenka thanked her coaching team for "handling" her, claiming to be the toughest player to manage. She then turned her attention to boyfriend Georgios Frangulis in the player's box, hinting he should propose. "Hopefully, soon I will call you something else," she said, adding, "That just put extra pressure, right?"
Sabalenka now turns her attention to Melbourne, where she will aim to defend her Australian Open title for a third successive time, with the first major of the year commencing on Sunday, January 18.
In the men's final, Russia's Daniil Medvedev claimed his 22nd career singles title, easing past American Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 7-6(1), dominating the tiebreaker by winning the first five points.
