Brisbane International Showdown: Sabalenka vs Kostyuk Final Preview

Aryna Sabalenka is a Belarusian professional tennis player, born on May 5, 1998, in Minsk, Belarus[1][2][6]. She is currently recognized as one of the most dominant figures in women’s tennis, having reached the pinnacle of the sport as the WTA World No. 1 and securing her place among the elite players of her generation[1][3][5]. Sabalenka’s tennis journey began at age six, and she started formal training at a local academy by eight, quickly rising through the junior ranks before turning professional in 2015[6][7]. Known for her aggressive baseline play, powerful serve, and relentless competitive spirit, she has become famous for overpowering opponents with her groundstrokes and mental toughness[1][6]. Sabalenka stands 6 feet tall and plays right-handed[4]. Her breakthrough on the WTA Tour came with a rapid ascent in the early 2020s. She first reached the world No. 1 ranking in singles in 2023, a year in which she also won her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, defeating Elena Rybakina in the final[1][3]. She followed this with another Australian Open victory in 2024 and claimed her third major at the US Open in 2024, then successfully defended that title in 2025 for her fourth Grand Slam triumph[1][5]. In addition to her Grand Slam successes, Sabalenka has won multiple WTA 1000 titles, including Madrid, Miami, and Cincinnati, and has consistently reached the latter stages of major tournaments[2][3][5]. As of late 2025, Sabalenka remains a fixture at the top of the women’s game, having held the year-end No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career[3][5]. Her 2025 season has been particularly strong, with four titles, including two WTA 1000 events and a successful US Open defense, further cementing her status as a leading force in tennis[5]. Off the court, Sabalenka is known for her engaging personality and has become a prominent ambassador for the sport. Sabalenka’s rivalry with players like Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff has been a highlight of recent WTA seasons, contributing to some of the most competitive and high-profile matches in women’s tennis[1]. Her consistency at the highest level, combined with her explosive playing style, ensures she remains a central figure in the sport’s current landscape.

Marta Kostyuk is a Ukrainian professional tennis player born on June 28, 2002, in Kyiv. At age 23, she plays right-handed, stands 5-foot-9, and holds a career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 16 achieved on June 17, 2024. She is currently ranked around No. 23-27 and is Ukraine's No. 2 player.[1][2][4] From a tennis family—her mother Talyna Beyko was a pro player—Kostyuk began competing young. In 2017, at 14, she won the Australian Open girls' singles title and later that year claimed her first ITF pro title in Dunakeszi, Hungary, becoming Ukraine's youngest pro winner. She also secured the US Open girls' doubles title and the ITF Junior Masters, peaking at junior world No. 2.[1][2][3] Turning pro, she debuted at the 2018 Australian Open as the youngest main-draw entrant, upsetting Peng Shuai and breaking into the WTA Top 200. Early highlights included Fed Cup wins and ITF successes. She broke into the Top 100 in 2020 after ITF finals.[1][3] On the WTA Tour, Kostyuk won her maiden singles title at the 2023 ATX Open, dedicating it to Ukraine amid the war and refusing a handshake with her Russian opponent. She has two doubles titles: 2022 Portoroz and 2023 Birmingham. In 2024, she reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open, WTA 500 finals in San Diego and Stuttgart, a WTA 1000 semifinal at Indian Wells, and Roland Garros Round of 16. She earned five Top 10 wins, debuted in the Top 20 on May 6, and ended the year at No. 18, plus Paris Olympics quarterfinals and Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition.[1][2][3][5] In 2025, she posted a 26-20 singles record, reached US Open Round of 16, and three WTA 1000 quarterfinals. She started 2026 strongly, finishing runner-up in Brisbane—her fourth career final—while training in Monaco and Kyiv under coach Sandra Zaniewska.[1][4][5]

Karolína Muchová is a **Czech professional tennis player** born on August 21, 1996, in Olomouc, Czech Republic.[1] She turned professional in 2013 and has established herself as one of the sport's competitive mid-tier players, achieving a career-high singles ranking of world No. 8 in September 2023.[1] Muchová's breakthrough came at the 2018 US Open, where she defeated world No. 12 and two-time major champion Garbiñe Muguruza in the second round.[1] She continued her ascent through the professional ranks, reaching her first WTA final at Prague in 2019 before winning her sole WTA Tour title at the Korea Open that same year.[1][5] Her most significant achievement occurred in 2023 when she reached the French Open final, becoming the fifth Czech player to reach a Roland Garros final in the Open Era.[1] In that tournament, she upset world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set match lasting over three hours, ultimately losing to world No. 1 Iga Świątek in the final.[1] That same year, she also reached the US Open semifinals, losing to Coco Gauff, and made WTA 1000 finals at Cincinnati and Beijing.[5] Throughout her career, Muchová has demonstrated versatility across all Grand Slam events, making at least the quarterfinals at each major tournament.[5] In 2024, she reached the US Open semifinals and competed in the Paris Olympics, finishing fourth in women's doubles with Linda Nosková.[4] As of early 2025, Muchová continued competing at the elite level, reaching quarterfinals at Grand Slam tournaments and maintaining her status among the tour's complete and versatile players.[4] Her current WTA ranking stands at No. 19, with a 2025 singles record of 26-17.[6]