Brisbane win propels Sabalenka to top of Australian Open betting

Aryna Sabalenka has further shortened her odds to win the Australian Open with a dominant title run at the Brisbane International on Sunday at the Queensland Tennis Centre.

The Belarusian prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 over Polina Kudermetova to win her second title at the Brisbane event, meaning she has now won four of the last five events she has played on Australian soil.

As a result, she shortens to just $3.25 to win the Australian Open – which starts on Sunday, January 12 – and is a heavy favourite across most tennis betting sites.

Her closest competition at the year’s first Grand Slam in outright betting is Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, both of whom are on $5 to win the title at the top online bookmakers.

Sabalenka was required to weather an early storm from Kudermetova in the first set, with the Russian coming back from a break down and testing her opponent with an aggressive court position.

She played the more ambitious tennis of the two, capitalising on her chances to claim the opening set.

However, Sabalenka regained control of the match when she too began finding her range, racing through the final two sets with relative ease.
“I had a break in the first set,” Sabalenka said.

“I was trying to play too conservative, I would say. I wasn’t following the plan.

“That was the moment where everything clicked for her and she was smashing the ball.

“Seems like everything is going in.

“I was like, I cannot do much in this situation.

“In that second set, I just put her under a little pressure.

“I saw the way she was reacting, the way she was playing. She was rushing things a lot.

“I was like, I’m just going to stay aggressive, keep pushing, keep swinging the ball, and hopefully I’ll be able to turn around this game.”

Following the match, Sabalenka declared that she is excited for the Australian Open, as she seeks to become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to win the tournament three times in a row.

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