Aryna Sabalenka has started 2026 in strong form, securing the Brisbane International title with a convincing performance.
Sabalenka, who also won the event in 2025, took down Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3 in this year’s final.
She did not drop a set throughout the tournament and now holds 22 WTA Tour titles. It was another dominant week for Sabalenka, who continues to build her legacy on tour.
Sabalenka went into Brisbane as the top seed and made her way through a competitive draw that included wins over Madison Keys and Karolina Muchova before finishing with another strong showing against Kostyuk.
Aryna Sabalenka celebrates title in Brisbane with a bold statement
Sabalenka has since posted on social media to mark the occasion, sharing on Instagram: “Thank you Brisbane International for all the love, it feels so good to be back.
“Gummy bears and playing doubles with Paula Badosa made this tournament even better. Australia, we are just getting started.”
In addition to her singles success, Sabalenka also teamed up with Paula Badosa in doubles play. The two, who share a strong friendship off the court, made an appearance together during the tournament.
They won their first match of the event but did not compete in their scheduled quarter-final shortly after.
Sabalenka makes strong start to 2026 ahead of Australian Open
Sabalenka’s words are bound to catch the attention of the rest of the WTA Tour, especially given how sharp she looks at this stage of the season.
She clearly enjoys playing in Australia, and her current form only adds to her reputation as a player who thrives in these conditions.
As the top seed, she is set to compete in the Australian Open, a hard-court event where she has secured two of her four Grand Slam titles.
Having also reached the 2025 final, the Belarusian lost to Madison Keys. Meanwhile, Sabalenka has now achieved a remarkable record in Australia, winning 38 of her past 40 matches.
This kind of consistency makes Sabalenka a strong contender for another title run, and few will be surprised if she lifts the trophy again.
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