World No.1 and top seed Aryna Sabalenka showcased her trademark power and resilience in a challenging third-round encounter, defeating No.15 seed Yulia Putintseva 7-6(2), 6-4 in just under two hours at the Brisbane International WTA event.
Sabalenka entered the match as the favourite but was immediately put on the back foot by Putintseva’s tactical variety and defensive brilliance. The Kazakhstan player’s speed and court awareness disrupted Sabalenka’s rhythm, forcing uncharacteristic errors and building a 5-3 lead. Advertisement Putintseva’s defensive highlight came at a spectacular point where she found the lines repeatedly while on the run, earning loud applause from the Brisbane crowd.
The World No.29’s ability to mix her shots and anticipate Sabalenka’s power plays kept the Belarusian under constant pressure. Advertisement However, Sabalenka’s mental fortitude shone through in the critical moments.
Down 5-3 and two points from losing the set on four occasions, she managed to shorten rallies with pinpoint power, neutralizing Putintseva’s variety. Though Sabalenka missed her first set point at 6-5, she shifted gears in the tiebreak, unleashing her signature power game to dominate 7-2 and seize the momentum. Riding high on the confidence from the first set, Sabalenka broke Putintseva immediately in the second set with a ferocious forehand winner.
That game proved decisive. While Putintseva continued to fight, taking Sabalenka to 30-30 on three separate occas.