Down a set and nearly a break against the younger Kudermetova sister, 21-year-old qualifier Polina, in the final of the Brisbane International on Sunday. Aryna Sabalenka remembered who she is.
“I was trying to play too conservative, I would say,” the world No. 1 said following a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 comeback to claim the WTA 500 title. “I wasn’t following the plan. That was the moment where everything clicked for her and she was, like, smashing the ball. Seems like everything is going in. I was like, I cannot do much in this situation.
“In that second set, I just put her under a little pressure. I saw the way she was reacting, the way she was playing. She was rushing things a lot. I was like, I’m just going to stay aggressive, keep pushing, keep swinging the ball, and hopefully I’ll be able to turn around this game.”
The two-time reigning Australian Open champion improved to 27-1 Down Under since 2023 with the come-from-behind victory. Her only loss, coincidentally, was a 6-0, 6-3 thumping at the hands of Elena Rybakina in last year’s final in Brisbane.
