Down a set and almost a break to Kudermetova’s younger 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 conservatively, I would say,” the world number one said after a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 comeback to win the WTA 500 title. “I didn’t follow the plan. That’s when everything clicked for her and she was breaking the ball. It seems like everything is happening. I was like, there’s not much I can do in this situation.
“In this second set, I just put a little pressure on him. I saw the way she reacted, the way she played. She rushed things a lot. I was like, I’m just going to stay aggressive, keep pushing, keep swinging the ball and hopefully I can turn things around in 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 6-3, 6-0 scoreline to Elena Rybakina in last year’s final in Brisbane.
