Sabalenka stops prodigy Noskova to claim first title of 2023

18-year-old Czech player Linda Noskova had the start of the season of her dreams, but she was eventually stopped by Aryna Sabalenka.

The young Czech beat Anna Kalinskaya, Anastasia Potapova, Daria Kasatkina, Claire Liu, Victoria Azarenka, and Ons Jabeur before facing WTA World No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka, who was yet to lose a set at the 2023 Adelaide International 1.

The Belarusian player also bested some impressive opponents on her way to their final meeting. Sabalenka outplayed Liudmila Samsonova, Marketa Vondrousova, and Irina-Camelia Begu.

In the first five games, both players had two break points, but none could use them. Then, the Belarusian earned one more opportunity, and this time, she succeeded in getting a break.

She was then able to hold the one-break advantage for the remainder of the opening set, and she eventually won it 6-3 in only 38 minutes of play. The second set was a much bigger battle.

Both players hit six aces and at least 5 doubles faults, and both had break points. But after none of the players could use their chances, a tie-break had to decide the second set.

This time, experience beat the youth as Sabalenka broke her opponent's serve four times to win the tie-break 7-4 and the match 6-3, 7-6(4) in an hour and 46 minutes to claim her first title of the 2023 season.

Despite her triumph, Sabalenka will stay fifth in the WTA Rankings, but she will close up the gap on her closest competitors. On the other hand, Noskova will surely be the mover of the week as she will jump up by 46 positions to the No. 56 spot.

Sabalenka will head to the Australian Open with a title under her belt, but for Noskova, this was certainly also a confidence-boosting week that could pay its dividends in Melbourne.