Aryna Sabalenka Brisbane International Final: Defending Champ Eyes Third Straight Title

She's making it a habit. World number one Aryna Sabalenka dispatched Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach the Brisbane International final for the third straight year. The Belarusian superstar's 6-3 6-4 victory on January 10, 2026, cements her status as the favorite heading into the Australian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka Brisbane International Final: Breaking the Jinx

Before this semifinal, Muchova was widely considered Sabalenka's kryptonite. With a 3-1 head-to-head lead including wins in their last three meetings, the Czech player posed a significant psychological hurdle. However, Sabalenka shrugged off the statistics, taking full control with an early break and finishing the first set with a signature backhand winner. Despite a late push from Muchova, Sabalenka secured the win on her fourth match point.

Final Showdown Against Marta Kostyuk

Sabalenka will face Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk in Sunday's title clash. Kostyuk has been the tournament's giant-killer, having already taken down world number six Jessica Pegula. This final serves as the ultimate litmus test before the Australian Open begins at Melbourne Park on January 18. In the men's draw, top seed Daniil Medvedev also secured his final berth, highlighting a weekend of dominance for the top-ranked stars.