Sabalenka wins 2025 Brisbane International opener

Defending Australian Open champion and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus is off to a good start at the Brisbane International, BelTA learned. 

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Mexican Renata Zarazúa (No. 75) 6-4, 6-0 in the Round of 32. The Belarusian had five aces and made one double fault on serve. The match lasted just over an hour. In the next round Sabalenka will face Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva (No. 29) who overcame U.S. McCartney Kessler (67) in two sets. Another Belarusian tennis player Victoria Azarenka (20) will meet Australian tennis player Maya Joint (116) in the Round of 32.  

Last season, Sabalenka reached the final of the Brisbane tournament and lost to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina (0-6, 3-6). Victoria Azarenka reached the semifinals to lose to Sabalenka (2-6, 4-6). The current tournament will end on 5 January 2025.

For the world's leading tennis players, the Brisbane International is a test of strength before the season’s first Grand Slam - the Australian Open, which will be held in Melbourne from 12 to 26 January. Belarusian tennis players have had good runs in Australia: Aryna Sabalenka won the previous two tournaments, while Victoria Azarenka was victorious in 2012 and 2013.

Aryna Sabalenka was also confirmed as WTA year-end world number one for 2024.

In the latest ranking of the year released on 30 December, World No. 1 has 9,416 points. In the past year, 26-year-old Aryna Ssbalenka won two Grand Slam tournaments: Australian Open in January (for the second time in a row) and US Open in September (for the first time in her career). In addition, she won tournaments in Cincinnati, USA, and Wuhan, China. This year, Sabalenka has won 56 of 70 matches.