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Aryna Sabalenka started her 2025 season on a high note, clinching the Brisbane International presented by Evie. The Belarusian star, ranked No. 1 in the WTA, defeated Polina Kudermetova—a Russian qualifier ranked 107th—with a scoreline of 4-6 6-3 6-2.
After losing the first set, Sabalenka raised her game, overpowering her opponent with precise and powerful shots. During the trophy ceremony, the champion praised Kudermetova: “Congratulations to Polina—her aggressive play was impressive. She’s clearly doing the right work with her coach. And, of course, thank you to the fans—you know how much I love playing here in Australia. I’ve had a better start than last year,” she joked, referring to her loss to Rybakina 12 months ago, “and I’m really happy.”
For Kudermetova, 21 years old and playing in her first-ever final, it was a career-defining week. She secured her most significant victory by beating world No. 9 Daria Kasatkina in the round of 16 and held her ground for over an hour against the best player in the world. Her remarkable run will see her break into the WTA Top 100 for the first time.
“Thanks to Aryna for this match—it was an honor to face the No. 1 for the first time,” Kudermetova said in her post-match interview. “It’s been amazing to play here, from the qualifiers all the way to the final. Thanks to my team, the crowd, and Australia for the incredible food this week.”
