World number one Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant run at the Brisbane International, beating Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 6-4 to secure a place in the semi-finals. Despite a shaky start and some struggles with her second serve, the top seed proved why she is a three-time Grand Slam champion, showing resilience and power to keep her title hopes alive.
Sabalenka’s Redemption Against Bouzkova
Sabalenka came into this match with a score to settle. Six months ago, Bouzkova shocked her in Washington, but this time, the Belarusian was not ready to let history repeat itself. The match began with Bouzkova breaking Sabalenka in the opening game, signaling that the world number 44 would not go down without a fight.
However, Sabalenka responded immediately, breaking again in the second and sixth games of the first set to take control. Her ability to save four of five break points underlined her tenacity, while her six aces and an 80% success rate on her first serves formed the basis of her victory.
The second set saw Sabalenka break Bouzkova early in the third game and never look back, serving to win the match and advance. With this victory, Sabalenka now leads their head-to-head 2-1.
The Battle to Come: A Rematch Against Mirra Andreeva
Sabalenka’s next challenge is a dramatic semi-final against young Russian rising star Mirra Andreeva. The 17-year-old, currently ranked No. 16, surprised Ons Jabeur in the quarterfinals and is no stranger to surprises. In fact, Andreeva beat Sabalenka in their last meeting, a dramatic quarterfinal at Roland Garros last year.
Despite this defeat, Sabalenka holds a 2-1 advantage in their head-to-head meetings. Speaking about the upcoming match, Sabalenka praised her young rival:
“She’s a great player. We played an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi, so I got to know her better. She’s a nice person and a great player. We’ve had some great battles in the past. I’m really looking forward to facing him tomorrow.”
A clash of generations
The semi-final promises to be an exciting clash between experience and youth. Sabalenka, at the peak of her career, brings the firepower and composure of a seasoned champion. Meanwhile, fearless and promising Andreeva will look to repeat her exploits at Roland Garros and topple the world No. 1 once again.
With both players in excellent form, fans can expect a high-intensity clash that could set the tone for the 2025 tennis season. Will Sabalenka’s experience carry her to another final, or will the Will Andreeva’s fearless play bring her closer to a decisive title?
