World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka** will begin her 2025 season at the **Brisbane International**, set to take place in the first week of January. For Sabalenka, this will mark the second consecutive year she kicks off her season in Brisbane, having started 2024 at the same event. The Belarusian powerhouse had a memorable run last year but ultimately fell to **Elena Rybakina** in the final. As she prepares to return to Brisbane, Sabalenka’s confidence is sky-high after an exceptional 2024 season, which culminated in her finishing the year as the **World No. 1**, her first time ever at the top of the WTA rankings.
Sabalenka’s successful 2024 campaign saw her lift **four WTA titles**, including two **Grand Slam** victories at the **Australian Open** and the **US Open**. Her dominant hard-court performances helped her surpass **Iga Świątek** to end the season as the best player in women’s tennis. Now, Sabalenka is in **Riyadh** for the **WTA Finals**, where she has already secured two wins, earning a spot in the semifinals. With one last event to go, Sabalenka is poised to wrap up a historic season and head into 2025 with the WTA throne firmly under her control.
### Sabalenka’s Impressive 2024 Brisbane International Campaign
Aryna’s 2024 campaign at the **Brisbane International** set the tone for what would later become a career-defining year. Seeded No. 1 in Brisbane, she stormed through the early rounds, displaying both power and precision that earned her dominant victories. In the second round, Sabalenka faced **Lucia Bronzetti**, where she cruised to a comfortable 6-3, 6-0 win. The match was a showcase of Sabalenka’s relentless pressure, as she broke once in the first set and then powered through the second set, delivering a bagel to the Italian to book her place in the last 16.
In the third round, Sabalenka took on **Lin Zhu**, and the result was similarly one-sided. The Chinese player, who was ranked 15th, couldn’t find an answer to Sabalenka’s overwhelming firepower. Aryna secured a commanding 6-1, 6-0 victory in just 70 minutes. Sabalenka’s serve was nearly unbreakable, and she dictated play from the baseline, showing why she was considered one of the top contenders in the tournament.
Next up was **Daria Kasatkina**, ranked No. 18 at the time. Sabalenka continued her dominant run with a 6-1, 6-4 victory, moving into the semifinals with ease. She broke the Russian three times in the first set and again in the fifth game of the second set to take control. Kasatkina showed some resistance, saving break points at 3-2, but Sabalenka’s relentless pressure saw her through to a comfortable victory.
### Sabalenka Powers Through to the Semifinals
Sabalenka’s semifinals match was against her compatriot, **Victoria Azarenka**, a highly anticipated clash between two of Belarus’ most successful players. Azarenka had a solid year herself but was no match for the younger Sabalenka, who put on a commanding performance. Aryna emerged victorious with a 6-2, 6-4 scoreline in just an hour and a half. Sabalenka delivered **ten aces** and saved all three break points she faced, showcasing her composure under pressure. Despite Azarenka’s attempts to mount a comeback, Sabalenka’s serving and consistent groundstrokes kept her in control, allowing her to clinch a spot in the final.
### Final Showdown with Elena Rybakina
The final at the 2024 **Brisbane International** saw Sabalenka face **Elena Rybakina**, a player who had been in top form herself throughout the tournament. Despite Sabalenka’s impressive run, it was Rybakina who came out on top, delivering a clinical performance in straight sets: 6-0, 6-3. The Kazakh player was nearly flawless in the first set, which she won in dominant fashion, allowing Sabalenka just three games. Rybakina was untouchable on her first and second serves, while Sabalenka struggled to gain any foothold in the match.
In the second set, Sabalenka fought hard but found herself overwhelmed by Rybakina’s consistency and power. Rybakina broke early to lead 3-1 and continued to apply pressure, wrapping up the title in just under an hour. Despite the defeat, Sabalenka’s performance throughout the tournament had been impressive, and the loss to Rybakina didn’t overshadow the fact that she was playing some of the best tennis of her career.
### A Year of Major Accomplishments
While Sabalenka did not win the Brisbane title in 2024, the tournament marked the start of an unforgettable season. Her subsequent triumphs at the **Australian Open** and **US Open**, where she claimed her first Grand Slam titles, set her on a path toward the World No. 1 ranking. Additionally, Sabalenka added titles in **Cincinnati** and **Wuhan**, further cementing her place at the top of the WTA.
Ending the season as World No. 1 was the culmination of Sabalenka’s tireless work and relentless determination. She managed to fend off challenges from rivals like **Iga Świątek** and **Coco Gauff**, maintaining a level of consistency that is rare in today’s competitive era. Her aggressive game, characterized by her powerful serve and powerful groundstrokes, was at its best throughout the season, and she became a player to fear on every surface, especially hard courts.
### Looking Ahead to 2025
As Sabalenka prepares to return to the **Brisbane International** in January to kick off the 2025 season, expectations are higher than ever. She enters the tournament as the **defending World No. 1**, with the target squarely on her back. Brisbane has proven to be a tournament where Sabalenka has found success in recent years, and she will undoubtedly be looking to take the next step by securing the title and adding to her ever-growing collection of accolades.
With the **Australian Open** on the horizon immediately following Brisbane, Sabalenka is in prime position to defend her Grand Slam crown in Melbourne. Her impressive 2024 season demonstrated that she has the mental fortitude and physical ability to compete at the highest level, and she will be eager to continue her dominance on the WTA tour.
Sabalenka’s rise to World No. 1 has been one of the most exciting storylines in women’s tennis in recent years, and she will be aiming to further solidify her place as the top player in the world throughout the 2025 season. The competition will certainly be fierce, with players like **Iga Świątek**, **Coco Gauff**, and **Elena Rybakina** all vying for supremacy, but Sabalenka has shown time and time again that she has what it takes to rise to the occasion.
For now, Sabalenka’s eyes are firmly set on her return to **Brisbane**, where she will once again look to make a statement and launch her 2025 season with a strong start. The stage is set for another exciting chapter in the career of one of tennis’s most formidable talents.