Sabalenka Gets Bouzkova Revenge To Set Up Andreeva Blockbuster In Brisbane
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Aryna Sabalenka continued her simple cruise through the 2025 Brisbane International draw also against Marie Bouzkova.
The WTA World No. 1 player started the 2025 season in style, easily beating everyone who stood in her way at the WTA 500 event in Brisbane. Her first opponent was Renata Zarazua, who didn't really stand a chance against Sabalenka.
The Belarusian then also bested Yulia Putintseva before taking on Marie Bouzkova from the Czech Republic. The Czech player bested Sabalenka the last time they played when she overcame her at the 2024 Citi Open in Washington, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Back then, Sabalenka was pacing herself because of a previous injury and it showed in the match. Now, she didn't have a reason to pace herself, and it showed on the court, even though her performance was far from flawless.
In the first set of the match, Bouzkova started with a first break of serve, and she was more than an even opponent for the Belarusian. The first two games were very long, as they were decided by a total of six deuces.
Eventually, after the Czech player's break, Sabalenka broke back and the score was tied at 1-1 after two games played. A few games later, after both players easily held their serve a few times, the top seed got a chance to break again.
Sabalenka didn't use her initial break point at 3-2, but she created another chance, which she used to lead 4-2. Confirming the break was a challenging task, as she faced a break point, but saved it to lead 5-2.
In her last service game of the set, Sabalenka didn't allow her opponent to win a single point, winning the first set of the match 6-3.
At the start of the second set, Sabalenka struggled with break point conversion. She had two in the first game of the set but couldn't use either. Two games later, she had two more chances and used one to lead 2-1.
Both players then held their serve without facing a break point, but that was until Bouzkova served to stay in the match. She faced two break points, which were also match points, but saved both to stay in the match.
That might have proven to be crucial, as she then had two break point chances to break back when Sabalenka was serving for the match, but the Belarusian managed to save them, and using her fifth match point, she secured a 6-3, 6-4 win.
Her semi-final opponent at the 2025 Brisbane International will be 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva, who she teamed up with recently at the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi, and Sabalenka is looking forward to the clash.
"She’s a great player. We played an exhibition in Abu Dhabi. So I got to know her a little bit better. She’s a nice person and a great player. We’ve had great battles in the past. I’m really looking forward to facing her tomorrow."
