Sabalenka Levels the Rivalry With Clinical Brisbane Win Over Keys

Match Details

Event: Brisbane International
Date: January 2026
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Round: Quarterfinal
Result: Aryna Sabalenka def. Madison Keys 6–3, 6–3

Match Recap

Aryna Sabalenka didn’t just avenge her Australian Open final loss — she erased it.

In a rematch that carried real weight, the world No. 1 flipped the script on Madison Keys with a commanding straight-sets win in the Brisbane International quarterfinals. What had been a tight, emotional battle in Melbourne became a controlled, one-sided affair in Brisbane.

Sabalenka broke Keys in five consecutive service games, repeatedly stepping inside the baseline and punishing second serves. The pressure never eased. Even when Keys found moments of brilliance — including sharp passing shots and a few vintage forehands — Sabalenka responded immediately, refusing to let momentum build.

Keys struggled to protect her serve as the match wore on, and any hope of a second-set push disappeared when Sabalenka broke back almost instantly after dropping her own serve. From there, the outcome felt inevitable.

This wasn’t about revenge theatrics or crowd energy. It was about execution. Sabalenka served with clarity, returned aggressively, and dictated the tempo from the first set onward.

With the 6–3, 6–3 win, Sabalenka moves into the semifinals and sends a clear message ahead of the Australian Open: last year’s final wasn’t a ceiling — it was a checkpoint.

Why It Mattered

• Narrative reset: This was a direct response to the Australian Open final — and it was emphatic.
• Return dominance: Five straight breaks told the story more than any highlight.
• Early-season signal: Sabalenka looks settled, sharp, and physically ready before Melbourne.

One Thing to Watch Next

Keys’ game thrives when she controls first-strike tennis. When opponents consistently take that away — as Sabalenka did here — the margin gets thin fast. How she adjusts in upcoming tournaments will matter more than this result alone.

For Sabalenka, the takeaway is simpler: this is what the world No. 1 looks like when she’s fully dictating terms.