BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Elena Rybakina claimed her sixth profession title with a 6-0, 6-3 rout of top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka to win the Brisbane Worldwide in an ideal tune-up for the primary main of 2024.
Second-seeded Grigor Dimitrov beat top-seeded Holger Rune 7-6 (5), 6-4 in a tightly-fought males’s closing for his first tour title in six years.
Sabalenka, who had received 5 of her seven earlier conferences towards the fourth-seeded Rybakina, had no reply Sunday to the world No. 4’s laser-like groundstrokes and deft touches on the internet as Rybakina dominated the ultimate and stamped her credentials as one of many favorites for the upcoming Australian Open.
Virtually a 12 months after contesting the Australian Open closing, the place Sabalenka beat Rybakina in a good three-setter, the tables had been turned dramatically because the 2022 Wimbledon winner broke Sabalenka 3 times in a one-sided first set of simply 24 minutes on Pat Rafter Area in Brisbane.
It capped a dominant week for Rybakina, who conceded simply 15 video games throughout 5 straight-set wins and was the 24-year-old’s sixth profession title and first since Indian Wells final 12 months.
“I’d wish to say congrats Aryna for an awesome week and nice season final 12 months and hopefully we meet in Melbourne,” Rybakina stated. “Regardless of the rating, it’s all the time robust to play towards you, we all the time push one another.”
The loss ended Sabalenka’s streak of 15 wins on Australian soil, together with a title run in Adelaide final 12 months earlier than her Grand Slam breakthrough at Melbourne Park.
The ultimate was the primary to characteristic the highest two seeds in Brisbane since 2015, when No. 1 Maria Sharapova held off No. 2 Ana Ivanovic in three units.
Dimitrov claims first title in six years
It was Dimitrov’s, ranked 14th, ninth profession title and his first because the ATP finals in 2017, the identical 12 months he received his first Brisbane title.
“It’s been some time since I held one among these, I’m somewhat emotional,” Dimitrov stated on the trophy presentation. “It’s troublesome to explain. Holger, what a competitor.
“My love affair began 11 years in the past in Brisbane and I feel it continues.”
Dimitrov hit 33 winners and solely 14 unforced errors, with Rune saving break factors eight occasions earlier than Dimitrov lastly cracked his serve on the ninth alternative to disclaim him a fifth title.
The 32-year-old Dimitrov lastly broke Rune within the eighth recreation of the second set to steer 4-3. Rune saved two match factors within the subsequent recreation, wherein he had a time violation and served an ace at 30-40.
Dimitrov then took the subsequent recreation to like, serving his eighth ace of the match and ending on his third match level.
“Congrats to Grigor who performed an incredible match,” Rune stated. “I feel we now have lots to construct on after this week and hopefully we are able to go one step additional within the Australian Open.”
