World number 1 Aryna Sabalenka survived a thrilling encounter against Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva, prevailing with a hard-fought 7-6(2), 6-4 victory at the Brisbane International. Despite the score in two sets, Sabalenka’s triumph was not easy, the Belarusian having been pushed to her limits by the combative world number 29.
Sabalenka’s escape to the limit in the first set was the key moment of the match, proving her resilience and her champion’s temperament. With the win, she leveled her head-to-head record with Putintseva at 1-1, avenging a loss at the 2019 US Open.
First Set Drama: Sabalenka Saves the Day
Putintseva looked set to cause a huge upset when she broke Sabalenka’s serve in the seventh game and took a 5-3 lead. Serving for the set, Putintseva built a 30-0 advantage, just two points away from winning the opener. However, stress kicked in, leading to a series of errors that opened the door for Sabalenka.
The Belarusian capitalized, breaking again after a long game and forcing a tiebreak. Although Putintseva initially led 2-1 in the tiebreak, Sabalenka unleashed her powerful groundstrokes to string together six straight points and clinch the set 7-6(2).
Second Set: Sabalenka Takes Control
Capitalizing on the momentum of her breakaway in the first set, Sabalenka struck immediately in the second, breaking Putintseva in the first game. With a set and a break in front, the three-time Grand Slam champion showed her mastery , maintaining his serve with authority to conclude the match in just under two hours.
Next challenge: Bouzkova waits
Sabalenka’s reward for her hard-fought performance is a quarter-final clash against world number 44 Marie Bouzkova. The Czech player caused a surprise by beating Sabalenka in the semi-finals in Washington earlier this year, adding intrigue to their next meeting. The Belarusian will look to continue her winning streak and solidify her position as tournament favorite.
Sabalenka’s observation: Resilience in the spotlight
Although Sabalenka emerged victorious, the match highlighted areas for improvement, particularly her ability to start well against aggressive opponents. However, his ability to remain calm under pressure remains his defining trait, an asset that could take him far in the Brisbane picture and beyond.
As Sabalenka prepares for her next match, fans and analysts will be keeping a close eye to see if she can maintain her form and fend off another upset attempt in this highly competitive field.
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