NEW DELHI: Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday advanced to the final of the Brisbane International after defeating rising Russian star Mirra Andreeva.
Sabalenka secured a 6-3, 6-2 victory.
She broke Andreeva's serve once in the first set and twice in the second. The dominant performance comes shortly before Sabalenka begins her Australian Open title defense.
Sabalenka was the runner-up in Brisbane in 2024.
She has won the last two Australian Opens. Her ability to handle pressure from Andreeva in the first set and then take control in the second demonstrates her potential for a third consecutive Australian Open title.
"I definitely think that I have improved a lot mentally, physically and skills as well," the Belarusian said.
"I think every year I'm getting a little bit better."
Sabalenka's opponent in the final will be Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova.
Kudermetova continued her impressive run by defeating Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 6-3.
In the men's draw, defending champion Grigor Dimitrov retired from his semi-final match due to a hip injury.
Jiri Lehecka, an unseeded Czech player, was leading 6-4, 4-4 when Dimitrov left the court with a physiotherapist for a medical timeout.
Dimitrov, ranked 10th in the world, returned briefly but retired after playing just one more point.
Lehecka will now face American Reilly Opelka in the final. Opelka is known for his powerful serve.
This will be Lehecka's fourth ATP Tour final. The 23-year-old aims to add the Brisbane title to his Adelaide victory from last January.
"I will need to be focused 100 percent all the time," Lehecka said about facing Opelka's huge serve in the final.
"I will need to focus on every point, every chance, because the chance can be gone in a very small moment."
Opelka, who was previously ranked 17th before injuries sidelined him for almost two years, defeated rising French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Opelka broke Perricard's serve in the first set and then won the tiebreak to secure a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) victory. His injuries included wrist and hip problems.
"It's great to be in another final -- I didn't think I'd be playing in one at all," Opelka said.
"But once I was out of pain I had confidence that I could make it back."
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