World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka battles back to clinch Brisbane title against Kudermetova

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka geared up for her title defence at the year's opening Grand Slam with a battling 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova in the final of the Brisbane International on Sunday.

Sabalenka is bidding to become the first woman to lift three straight Australian Open trophies since Swiss Martina Hingis won from 1997 to 1999, and she will head to Melbourne Park brimming with confidence.

“I'm super happy to lift this trophy,” said Sabalenka. “It's a really important tournament before heading into the Australian Open. The final match was a bit tricky, (both of us) were over-hitting.

“I'm really curious about the average speed of our shots. It was a crazy match, and I'm really glad I got this win.”

The world No 1 from Belarus, outclassed in last year's final by Elena Rybakina before going on to win a second straight Melbourne Park crown, appeared off the pace against Kudermetova and lost the first set by dropping her serve for a second time.

Kudermetova came under pressure on serve in the opening game of the next set but the aggressive world No 107 rode out the storm and began to dictate play with more heavy hitting from the baseline to trouble Sabalenka.

“That was really great tennis from her,” Sabalenka said. “It was really aggressive. She has some variations and she was using it really well.

“She definitely deserved to be in the final. I'm pretty sure if she continues working the way she is, then she will be in the top 50 soon.”

A delicate drop shot handed Sabalenka the break, and the 26-year-old appeared much more like her usual dominant self in the rest of the set as she forced a decider, much to the delight of fans at a packed Pat Rafter Arena.

Sabalenka offered another reminder of her class by breaking in the deciding set with a neat crosscourt forehand winner and staved off a late comeback attempt from Kudermetova to win her first title of the season.

Czech Jiri Lehecka claimed the Brisbane men's title later on Sunday after Reilly Opelka retired with an injury while trailing 4-1 in the opening set.

The American upset former world No 1 Novak Djokovic in the quarter-final but appeared to struggle with a wrist issue in his semi-final win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

The 6-foot 11-inch [2.11m] Opelka spent nearly two years on the sidelines due to wrist and hip issues that needed surgery and only returned to the elite circuit last season.

Meanwhile, an inspired and in-form Coco Gauff beat Iga Swiatek in straight sets Sunday to fire a warning shot ahead of the Australian Open.

In a pulsating United Cup final women's singles match in the mixed teams event in Sydney, American Gauff triumphed 6-4, 6-4 over Poland's Swiatek in 1hr 51min of hard-hitting tennis.

It was third-ranked Gauff's second successive victory over Swiatek after beating the former world No 1 at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on her way to the title.

Gauff won all six of her previous singles and doubles matches this week and continued her streak when Swiatek double-faulted on match point at 4-5, 30-40 in the second set.

“I think I have the belief that I am one of the best players in the world, and when I play good tennis, it's hard for me to be beaten,” said Gauff.

The 20-year-old will go into the first Grand Slam of the year unbeaten in singles since losing to Sabalenka in the Wuhan semi-finals in October.

“Today I think I played great tennis, and I'm happy to get a point for my team on the board,” she said. “It was tough today. I'm not gonna lie.”

Meanwhile, former World No 1 Naomi Osaka was tearful after suffering an injury scare just a week before the start of the Australian Open.

Osaka retired from the ASB Classic final in Auckland due to an abdominal injury. The four-time Grand Slam champion won the first set against Clara Tauson 6-4 before taking an immediate medical time-out that would signal the end of the match.

“I just want to thank everyone for welcoming me to such a beautiful city and I had a lot of fun playing here,” Osaka said in an on-court interview after she was seen wiping away tears. “I’m really sorry about how it ended.”

The Australian Open begins on January 12.