Champions Shine at Brisbane International! 🎾🏆
Hey tennis fans! Have you heard the exciting news? Two amazing players, Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus and Jiri Lehecka from the Czech Republic, just won big at the Brisbane International in Australia! Let’s dive into their incredible victories.
Aryna Sabalenka’s Amazing Comeback! 🌟
Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s number one women’s tennis player, had a tough start in the final match. She lost the first set 4-6 against Polina Kudermetova from Russia. But guess what? She didn’t give up! Sabalenka fought back and won the next two sets 6-3 and 6-2, clinching the championship title! 🎉
This victory means a lot for Sabalenka. It’s her 12th consecutive win in Australia! She’s also won four of the last five tournaments she’s played in the country, including the Australian Open in both 2023 and 2024. Out of her 18 career titles, 16 have been on hard courts, which shows she’s a powerhouse on this surface! 💪
“I felt all of the support from the very beginning of the week until the very last point. I really appreciate it, and that’s why I love playing in Australia and in Brisbane,” Sabalenka said with a big smile after her win. 😊
Meet Polina Kudermetova: A Rising Star ✨
Polina Kudermetova might not have won the final, but she had an amazing tournament! At just 21 years old and ranked 107th in the world, she reached her first career final. She played eight matches in Brisbane, starting from the qualifying rounds! That’s a lot of tennis! 🎾 She’s now set to climb into the top 60 in the world rankings.
Sabalenka’s Next Goal: Australian Open Hat-Trick? 🎯
Now, Sabalenka is heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open. If she wins there, she’ll become the first woman since Martina Hingis in the 1990s to win three Australian Open titles in a row! That’s a huge deal! Let’s cheer her on! 🙌
Jiri Lehecka’s Quick Victory 🏃♂️💨
On the men’s side, Jiri Lehecka had an unusual win. He was up 4-1 in the final when his opponent, Reilly Opelka from the USA, had to retire due to a back injury. The match lasted only 13 minutes! ⏱️
This win gives Lehecka his second career title. He said, “It is never easy to finish a match this way. I know how you feel, Reilly. It’s been an honor to see you back playing, and if your body can take it, you will be there for many more years.”
Did you know? This was Lehecka’s second walkover win in a row! In the semifinal, his opponent, Grigor Dimitrov, withdrew before the match. With these victories, Lehecka will rise to number 24 in the world rankings just before the Australian Open! 🚀
Ready for the Australian Open! 🥳
Both Sabalenka and Lehecka are now gearing up for the Australian Open, one of the biggest tournaments of the year. Who knows what excitement awaits us there? Stay tuned, and keep practicing your tennis skills! Maybe one day, we’ll be cheering for you too! 🎾🌟
Reference(s):
Aryna Sabalenka, Jiri Lehecka win Brisbane International titles
cgtn.com
