With F1 star Jack Doohan looking on, Aryna Sabalenka showed drive to survive in Brisbane

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka showed off her need for speed at the Brisbane International, hitting the gas on her inimitable ground game to outlast good friend Yulia Putintseva, 7-6 (2), 6-4.

Celeb magnet Sabalenka had Australian rising F1 star Jack Doohan present in her box and the two-time Australian Open champion continued to earn her Aussie bona fides with another win Down Under, emerging victorious after one hour and 40 minutes on Pat Rafter Arena.

“Definitely, I’m an Aussie,” she told Dokic after a brief delay to her on-court interview so she could find and fasten her Audemars Piguet watch.

“Of course, I was trying to be as fast as they drive,” she added later, shouting out Doohan, “be aggressive, and I really wanted him to enjoy watching me play. I hope he did, because it’s really special to have him in the box.

“I hope he’ll come for the next matches until the end. You’re the best!”

The top seed and 2024 Brisbane finalist was surrounded by friends Thursday evening, from the fans in the stands to Putintseva herself, who had pushed Sabalenka to three sets only last fall at the Donfeng Voyah Wuhan Open.

“She’s an amazing player. She’s my friend, and she always pushes you to work really hard to work for every point.

Though she ultimately won in straight sets, Sabalenka was still made to battle throughout, rallying from a break down in the opening set, winning it in a tiebreaker, and steeling through the second set behind a single break of serve.

I’m a perfectionist, but I’m really happy with the level I played today, with the points I built today. Of course, I’m super happy with the win,” said Sabalenka, who thanked the crowd for sticking around for the match’s tense conclusion.

“I feel like home here.”

Sabalenka will face another test in the last eight as she aims to get revenge on Marie Bouzkova, who defeated her in three sets last summer in Washington, D.C. Still, the 26-year-old is keeping things simple on the court and when it comes to New Year’s resolutions.

“My personal resolution is to be happy, be healthy, and enjoy every moment,” she said. “I wish that for everyone.”