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Elena Rybakina thumps Aryna Sabalenka in Brisbane International final

Elena Rybakina has beaten Aryna Sabalenka 6-0 6-3 to claim the Brisbane International title.

Elena Rybakina has beaten Aryna Sabalenka 6-0 6-3 to claim the Brisbane International title. Photo: Getty

Elena Rybakina has trounced defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-0 6-3 to storm to the Brisbane International title.

The Kazakh world No.4 spent less than five hours on court in notching five impressive victories in the Queensland capital.

She put an eye-catching exclamation mark on her dominance in a one-sided final, reversing the result of last year’s tight three-set Melbourne Park decider.

Rybakina benefited from a mid-match withdrawal in the quarter-final but was untroubled in the season-opening tournament, clocking just four hours and 52 minutes under the bright lights.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion streaked to a 5-0 lead after just 18 minutes against Sabalenka, who had bossed her way to the final.

The pair will remain among the favourites in Melbourne from next Sunday but big-serving Rybakina’s stocks have soared as she chases a second major title.

ā€œI’d like to say congrats Aryna for a great week and great season last year and hopefully we meet in Melbourne,ā€ she said.

ā€œDespite the score, it’s always tough to play against you, we always push each other.ā€

The Belarusian world No.2, who now leads their head to head 5-3, Ā could only laugh amid the onslaught though.0

She celebrated winning a point in the first game of the second set then kissed her hand and saluted the sky when she finally won a game in the second set.

ā€œI don’t know where to start … that was an interesting match, great job, thank you for those three games to at least make it look like a fight,ā€ Sabalenka laughed post-match.

ā€œCouple of words to my team – you did a bad job today. 6-0 6-3, that’s all your fault guys.

ā€œIt is how it is. We showed some great tennis and hopefully we’ll do better at the Australian Open.

ā€œI just wanted you (the crowd) to save your energy for the men’s final.ā€

-AAP

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