World no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will kick off the 2025 season at the Brisbane International in the first week of the new year. The Belarusian player will compete in Brisbane for the second straight year, launching her 2024 campaign at this event and falling to Elena Rybakina in the final. Aryna is in Riyadh, scoring two wins at the WTA Finals and booking a place in the semi-final. Sabalenka will wrap up the season on the WTA throne for the first time in a career, lifting four WTA titles this year, including two hard-court Majors. The Belarusian also celebrated in Cincinnati and Wuhan, passing Iga Swiatek and terminating the season as the best player.
Sabalenka’s 2024 Brisbane International run
Aryna competed in Brisbane in January this year as the top seed, facing Lucia Bronzeti in the second round. The better-ranked player served well and kept the pressure on the other side in a 6-3, 6-0 victory. Sabalenka delivered a single break in the opening set before dominating the second, notching a bagel and moving into the last 16. The 15th seed Lin Zhu stood no chance against the Belarusian Tiger, with Aryna scoring a convincing 6-1, 6-0 triumph in 70 minutes.
World no. 2 denied four of five break points, losing…
