Aryna Sabalenka widens gap in rankings over Iga Swiatek with Brisbane title as Polina Kudermetova overtakes sister
Aryna Sabalenka widens gap in rankings over Iga Swiatek with Brisbane title as Polina Kudermetova overtakes sister
Shahida Jacobs
3 hours ago
Pictured left to right: Polina Kudermetova and Aryna Sabalenka
Polina Kudermetova and Aryna Sabalenka with Brisbane International trophies
Aryna Sabalenka has now won 27 of her last 28 matches on Australian soil as she collected her fourth title in five tournaments while Brisbane International runner-up Polina Kudermetova earned a huge rankings boost.
It was far from plain sailing for the world No 1 as she had to battle from a set down to beat qualifier Kudermetova, eventually winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, but the victory once again proved how dominant she is on the hard courts Down Under.
Sabalenka is now 27-1 on matches in Australia since the start of the 2023 season with the only defeat coming in last year’s Brisbane final against Elena Rybakina as she lost in straight sets.
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And that leads to another incredible statistic as Sabalenka has lost only four sets in the past three years as she is 54-4 ahead of the 2025 Australian Open.
The world No 1 won the Adelaide International and Australian Open in 2023, lost against Rybakina in the Brisbane final last year before defending her trophy at Melbourne Park a few weeks later.
The three-time Grand Slam winner picked up her 18th WTA Tour singles trophy in Brisbane on Sunday and she now sits alone in seventh place for active players with the most titles, three behind fellow Belarusian Victoria Azarenka who is on 21 while the great Venus Williams sits at the top with 49.
“The conditions in Australia are great for me. I feel very comfortable and full of confidence,” she said.
“I think what has brought me where I am now is my passion for tennis and my work ethic. Everything in my life revolves around this sport, it is my big priority. I know how to disconnect and have fun off the court, so I have found the perfect balance.”
Sabalenka was always assured of starting the Australian Open as the top seed, but she has increased her lead over Iga Swiatek in the WTA Rankings with her title run.
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The 26-year-old started the year with a 1,121 advantage over Swiatek, but the gap will grow to 1,556 points when the rankings are updated on Monday as the Pole lost her final singles match at the United Cup against Coco Gauff.
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Those three will headline the draw at the Australian Open with Jasmine Paolini set to be seeded fourth and last year’s runner-up Zheng Qinwen completing the top five.
The 21-year-old Kudermetova, meanwhile, is projected to surge 50 places in the rankings to a new career high of No 57.
Nine places ahead of her older sister, the 27-year-old Veronika Kudermetova who peaked at No 9 in 2022.
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