Elena Rybakina defeats Sabalenka in Brisbane to become first WTA title winner of the year

Elena Rybakina has become the first player to win a WTA title this year, storming past Aryna Sabalenka in a rematch of last year’s Australian Open final, 6-0, 6-3, for the WTA 500 title in Brisbane.

It’s the sixth WTA title of Rybakina’s career, and her fourth-biggest career title after one Grand Slam crown at Wimbledon in 2022 and a pair of WTA 1000 trophies at Indian Wells and Rome in 2023.

And she clinched the title in style, reeling off the first eight games of the match and eventually breaking the Sabalenka serve five times en route to a runaway victory in an hour and 13 minutes.

“I think the score doesn’t show the reality because all the games were quite tight, to be honest,” Rybakina told reporters afterwards. “Couple of moments maybe I was a bit luckier. I knew no matter the score it’s going to still be difficult in the second set. It was just a few moments again where it could turn the other way around.”

Rybakina didn’t drop a set all week—she was never even pushed past 6-4 in any of the sets she played en route to the title.

“Yeah, really happy with the whole week here in Brisbane. Didn’t expect that it’s going to be like this, quite by the score,” she said.

“Just looking forward for the next weeks, especially in Melbourne.”

With her victory over the No. 2-ranked Sabalenka, Rybakina also continued to add onto a very impressive stat—she's now won eight of her last nine matches against Top 3 players.

ELENA RYBAKINA VS. TOP 3 PLAYERS (9-5):

• l. to No. 1 Barty in 2020 Australian Open 3rd Rd, 6-3, 6-2
• d. No. 3 Pliskova in 2020 Dubai QFs, 7-6 (1), 6-3
• l. to No. 2 Halep in 2020 Dubai F, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5)
• l. to No. 1 Barty in 2022 Adelaide-1 F, 6-3, 6-2
• l. to No. 3 Badosa in 2022 Stuttgart 2nd Rd, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (4)
• d. No. 2 Jabeur in 2022 Wimbledon F, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
• d. No. 1 Swiatek in 2023 Australian Open 4th Rd, 6-4, 6-4
• d. No. 1 Swiatek in 2023 Indian Wells SFs, 6-2, 6-2
• d. No. 2 Sabalenka in 2023 Indian Wells F, 7-6 (11), 6-4
• d. No. 3 Pegula in 2023 Miami SFs, 7-6 (3), 6-4
• d. No. 1 Swiatek in 2023 Rome QFs, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 2-2 ret. (thigh injury)
• d. No. 1 Sabalenka in 2023 Beijing QFs, 7-5, 6-2
• l. to No. 1 Sabalenka in 2023 WTA Finals RR, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
• d. No. 2 Sabalenka in 2024 Brisbane F, 6-0, 6-3

And for anyone wondering, Sabalenka was ranked No. 5 when she defeated Rybakina in the Australian Open final last year.