Aryna Sabalenka secured her place in the final of the 2025 Brisbane International by defeating Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals on January 4, 2025, at the Queensland Tennis Centre. This victory not only propelled her toward another title but also served as sweet revenge for her stunning loss to Andreeva at the 2024 French Open quarterfinals.
The match unfolded with Sabalenka demonstrating her resilient form as the world’s top-ranked female player. She saved all eight break points she faced, showcasing her defensive prowess during pivotal moments of the match. "It seems like everything was working really well for me," Sabalenka said post-match. "She's [Andreeva] an amazing player, young player, I'm pretty sure she's going to be Top 10 for so long, and pretty soon -- I'm just happy to get the win." Sabalenka noted her admiration for Andreeva, acknowledging her potential to become one of the leading players on the WTA tour.
Email notifications for the match had garnered quite the audience, and as the two seeded contestants—Sabalenka ranked No. 1 and Andreeva at No. 16—stepped on the court, immense anticipation filled the air. Sabalenka had entered the semifinals with momentum, having dispatched her last opponent, Marie Bouzkova, with relative ease, winning 6-3, 6-4. Andreeva, meanwhile, had also been impressive, not dropping a single set throughout the tournament leading up to this match.
The first set saw Andreeva gain the upper hand quickly, testing Sabalenka with multiple break points. Yet, Sabalenka managed to hold her composure, eventually breaking Andreeva’s serve during the eighth game to close out the set, all the time saving several break points. Andreeva’s agility and defensive strategies put pressure on Sabalenka, but the experience and power of the top-seed proved too formidable.
Although Andreeva demonstrated flashes of brilliance throughout the match, she fell victim to several unforced errors at pivotal moments, unable to capitalize on opportunities to turn the tide. The second set opened similarly, as both players fought for supremacy, but Sabalenka’s dominant serves began to take over. She earned two breaks of serve to double her lead by the time they reached 5-2, closing out the match decisively.
Andreeva’s path to the semifinals had included notable wins, such as her previous match against Ons Jabeur, where she demonstrated remarkable mental fortitude to secure victory after saving set points. Despite her loss to Sabalenka, Andreeva has shown great promise and resilience throughout the tournament, signaling her potential as one of the sport’s rising stars.
Looking forward, Aryna Sabalenka’s victory sets her up for another big showdown. She will face Polina Kudermetova, who upset Anhelina Kalinina to advance to the final, giving Sabalenka the chance to claim her 18th career title. Sabalenka previously finished as runner-up at last year’s Brisbane International and appears poised to make another strong run.
This matchup promises to be thrilling, with Sabalenka’s powerful groundstrokes set against Kudermetova’s developing game. Tennis aficionados will be eager to see if Sabalenka can maintain her momentum and assert her dominance over the field once again.