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Marta Kostyuk Storms Into Brisbane Final, Sets Up Clash With Aryna Sabalenka

Marta Kostyuk delivered a dominant performance to defeat third seed Jessica Pegula and advance to the Brisbane International final. The Ukrainian has been in superb form, beating three top-10 players en route to the championship match. She will face world No. 1 and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, who has not dropped a set this tournament. Kostyuk will attempt to overcome a 0-4 head-to-head record against Sabalenka to claim her first title since 2023.

Key Points: Kostyuk Beats Pegula, Faces Sabalenka in Brisbane Final

  • Kostyuk's commanding 6-0, 6-3 semifinal win
  • Defeated three top-10 opponents this week
  • Faces defending champion Sabalenka in final
  • Sabalenka holds a 4-0 head-to-head advantage
  • Kostyuk seeking her second career WTA title
3 min read

Brisbane International: Kostyuk beats Pegula, books final date with Sabalenka

Marta Kostyuk dominates Jessica Pegula to reach the Brisbane International final, where she will challenge world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka for the title.

"I started unbelievably... I'm very happy with how I stayed until the end of the match. - Marta Kostyuk"

Brisbane, Jan 10

Marta Kostyuk continued her blistering form at the Brisbane International on Saturday, storming into the final with a commanding 6-0, 6-3 victory over No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula in the semifinals.

The 16th-seeded Ukrainian has been one of the standout performers of the tournament, having already eliminated second seed Amanda Anisimova and two-time WTA 1000 champion Mirra Andreeva in earlier rounds. She carried that momentum seamlessly into the semifinal, producing a ruthless opening stretch that left Pegula with little room to respond.

Kostyuk raced through the opening set without dropping a game and extended her dominance into the second, winning the first three games to surge ahead 6-0, 3-0. Pegula finally halted the run in the fourth game of the second set, but any hopes of a comeback were short-lived. The American failed to convert a break-point opportunity in the following game and did not earn another chance for the remainder of the match as Kostyuk closed out the contest in straight sets.

The Ukrainian's efficiency was reflected in the numbers. She struck four aces, converted four of her eight break-point chances, and successfully defended both break points she faced. The win marked only her second victory over Pegula in six meetings and capped a run that has seen her defeat three top-10 opponents during the week.

Standing between Kostyuk and a maiden Brisbane title is world No. 1 and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, who earlier defeated Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-4 to reach her third consecutive final at the tournament. Sabalenka has not dropped a set this week and will be chasing a second straight Brisbane crown.

The final will be Kostyuk's first at the Brisbane International, a notable step forward for the 23-year-old, who had previously exited the tournament twice in the second round. It will also mark her first final appearance since Stuttgart in 2024 and offers her a chance to claim her first title since Austin in 2023.

The championship match will be the fifth meeting between Kostyuk and Sabalenka, with the Belarusian holding a dominant 4-0 head-to-head record, all wins coming in straight sets. Ranked world No. 26, Kostyuk will be aiming to overturn that history; a victory would secure her second WTA title.

"I started unbelievably and, you know, we're all human beings, so I was like, it's going to end at some point today - maybe not today, but I'm very happy with how I stayed until the end of the match," Kostyuk said after the game.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Great to see a new face making a deep run. The women's tour needs more of these exciting breakthroughs. Sabalenka is a beast, but Kostyuk's momentum is scary. Hoping for a competitive final!
A
Aman W
While the tennis is brilliant, it's a bit disappointing that the article focuses so much on the head-to-head record. It creates a narrative of inevitability before the final is even played. Let's appreciate Kostyuk's current form on its own merit.
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Sarah B
Pegula seemed completely off her game. Kostyuk took full advantage. The stats tell the story - she was clinical. The final should start at a decent time for us in India, looking forward to it!
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Vikram M
This is the kind of tournament run that can change a player's career. Beating three top-10 players? That's massive for her confidence. Sabalenka is the favourite, but in one match, anything can happen. Jai ho, Kostyuk!
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Kavya N
Her quote is so relatable – "we're all human beings, so I was like, it's going to end at some point." That mindset of staying focused even when you're dominating is key. Hope she can carry this into the Australian Open as well.

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