After a 16-month maternity break, new mother and 4-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka returned to elite tennis with a win over Tamara Korpatsch at the Brisbane International, prevailing in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(9). However, her return was short-lived as Karolina Pliskova, who won her 10th straight match at the event, overcame Osaka in the second round with a 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 victory. In the final, World No. 4 Elena Rybakina faced World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, in a rematch of the 2023 Australian Open decider. Rybakina dominated the match, winning her first title of the year and the sixth of her career, including the prestigious WTA 500 title, with a commanding 6-0, 6-3 victory. Rybakina won the first *8* games and ended Sabalenka's streak of 33 consecutive holds. With this victory, Rybakina is set to rise to No. 3 in the world rankings, overtaking Coco Gauff.
Warning shot from Elena Rybakina ahead of the #AusOpen. Dominates rival Aryna Sabalenka 6-0 6-3 in the Brisbane final. Will move to No. 3 in the world, dislodging Coco Gauff. Looks more all-court than in 2023: touch at net and timing of pushes forward seem improved #getty https://t.co/MUvZFQY52a
Sixth WTA ๐ for Elena Rybakina as she breezes past Sabalenka in the final for the 6-0, 6-3 win in Brisbane! https://t.co/YFdAGoja36
Elena Rybakina starts her season with a 6th WTA title, after beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-0, 6-3 at the Brisbane final. What a week she had: 6-4 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-1 ret 6-3 6-2 6-0 6-3 Amazing! https://t.co/4zb0tjC5c4
Mind. Blown. Rybakina crushes Sabalenka 6-0 6-3 in the Brisbane final with an astonishingly good performance. Rarely seen Sabalenka so powerless. It felt like Rybakina needed the off season, and sheโs come out revitalised. Only lost 15 games in 5 matches.
A trophy worthy of a smile ๐๐ Elena Rybakina puts on a masterclass against Aryna Sabalenka 6-0, 6-3 to claim career title No.6 in Brisbane! #BrisbaneTennis https://t.co/cN0OiJ3r8E
FIRST WTA TITLE WINNER OF 2024! ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ฟ Elena Rybakina has become the first woman to win a WTA title this year and she's done it in style, storming past World #2 Aryna Sabalenka, 6-0 6-3, to claim the WTA 500 title in Brisbane. ๐ฅ It's the sixth WTA title of Rybakina's career:
DOMINATION IN BRISBANE ๐ Incredible tennis this week from Elena Rybakina, as she dispatches Sabalenka in the final for her 6th WTA title! https://t.co/70z3nJvYGO
Second seed Elena Rybakina wins the first *8* games before top seed Aryna Sabalenka gets on the board in their Brisbane final. ๐ฒ Sabalenka broke for 1-2 in the second set to end Rybakina's 2024 start of posting 33 consecutive holds. https://t.co/jyLLi7J2fv
Who will start 2024 with a title? Top seeds Sabalenka and Rybakina square off for the Brisbane trophy! #BrisbaneTennis https://t.co/zX1sLKuFHc
Sabalenka sets up a Brisbane final vs Rybakina. It's a rematch of the 2023 Australian Open decider (from @AP) https://t.co/gjau9mlGwj
#ICYMI: Top seed @SabalenkaA overpowered compatriot and two-time champ Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-4 at #BrisbaneInternational. She sets up a ๐ฟ final against Elena Rybakina. "Let's just say it's going to be great battle as always." https://t.co/y6IarUyAan
๐พ Top seed Aryna Sabalenka swept past Victoria Azarenka on Saturday into a Brisbane International final against world number four Elena Rybakina, setting up a replay of last year's Australian Open decider. โก๏ธ https://t.co/kSfmIgtcCs #AFPSports https://t.co/jOEjaFEHqe
The 1st WTA final of the year ๐ฅ Sabalenka โ๏ธ Rybakina ๐ Brisbane https://t.co/Yh4oK4C5G2
Aryna Sabalenka is through to the Brisbane International final after a 6-2 6-4 win over Victoria Azarenka ๐พ https://t.co/9jvGGPUxqz
Top seed ๐ final bound @SabalenkaA makes it 1๏ธโฃ5๏ธโฃ straight wins down under to reach the Brisbane final downing Azarenka 6-2, 6-4. #BrisbaneTennis https://t.co/ztIwoHv3Jd
SABALENKA into the FINAL in Brisbane! The World No.2 dismisses fellow countrywoman Victoria Azarenka 6-2 6-4 to meet Elena Rybakina in her 1st final of the year What a nice headline ๐คค https://t.co/nJW8FHgyIP
Sabalenka into the Brisbane final to face Rybakina ๐ฅ YES PLEASE! https://t.co/F77Ur3wb9E
A date with Rybakina in the Brisbane final awaitsโฆ. Who will join her? Sabalenka ๐ Azarenka #BrisbaneTennis https://t.co/COtCytzgwh
Exceptional. Elena Rybakina is into the Brisbane International final โจ #BrisbaneTennis https://t.co/QWdTC47azc
Laser focus ๐ฅ Elena Rybakina takes the first set 6-3 over Noskova and is one set away from the final. #BrisbaneTennis https://t.co/rVk5IfvYq1
Sabalenka sets Azarenka showdown! ๐ฟ @SabalenkaA defeats Daria Kasatkina, 6-1, 6-4, to complete Brisbane's women's semifinal lineup. The world No. 2 has dropped just two service games and conceded nine total games in her three wins. โก https://t.co/RjhL0b2YXl
Fighting SPIRIT๐ฅ @JelenaOstapenk8 forces a decider after taking the second set 6-3 over Azarenka. #BrisbaneTennis https://t.co/KNVp5yQEoi
A fight to the finish ๐ @JelenaOstapenk8 defeats Pliskova in a three set battle 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 and secures her spot in the quarterfinals! #BrisbaneTennis https://t.co/oqWqg2UDTz
Comeback complete ๐ซก @KaPliskova rallies from a set down to halt Naomi Osaka's return to action and win a 10th straight match at @BrisbaneTennis. How it happenedโคต๏ธ https://t.co/G5qaqJQcJO
Pliskova prevails over Osaka ๐จ๐ฟ๐ค She spoils the 4x grand slam champโs return to tour with 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 victory. #BrisbaneTennis https://t.co/dzGvWlbQii
Striking back ๐ฅ @KaPliskova takes the second 7-6 (4) over Osaka and forces a decider. #BrisbaneTennis https://t.co/BSC3MlvXx8
Osaka on fire ๐ฅ She takes the opening set 6-3 over Pliskova! #BrisbaneTennis https://t.co/R7xkNUOSry
On fire ๐ฅ @naomiosaka takes the first set 6-3 over Pliskova. #BrisbaneTennis https://t.co/lfogreMcwo
Naomi Osaka Makes Winning Comeback In Brisbane, Beats Korpatsch https://t.co/JxeRoVXdjl
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is well and truly back! #BBCTennis #BrisbaneInternational
Successful return for Naomi Osaka! ๐ 16 months after stopping her career to give birth to her daughter, 4-time Grand Slam champion has beaten Tamara Korpatsch 6-3 7-6 in Brisbane 1st round https://t.co/LLELrAtIqG
Naomi Osaka returns to elite tennis from a maternity break and wins her first match in Brisbane (from @AP) https://t.co/JaLwCGyRnC
New mother Naomi Osaka makes winning return in Brisbane International https://t.co/Q8OHIoCuCD
Naomi Osaka Gets Comeback Win In Return to Elite Tennis at the Brisbane International https://t.co/CeXg97El0d
Welcome back, Naomi! ๐ @naomiosaka wins her first match back, taking down Tamara Korpatsch in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(9). She moves on and faces Pliskova in the second round. #BrisbaneTennis https://t.co/Nbe7QgwYhb