**Sabalenka Claims Brisbane Title Amid Tensions with Kostyuk** Top-ranked Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka secured her second consecutive Brisbane International title, defeating Marta Kostyuk in a straight-sets win on Sunday. Sabalenka dominated the Ukrainian player, 6-4, 6-3, in just 1 hour and 17 minutes at Pat Rafter Arena. The victory marked Sabalenka's 22nd WTA title and set her up well for the upcoming Australian Open, which begins on January 18. The match remained intense, with Kostyuk initially putting up a strong fight, exploiting Sabalenka's second serve with drop shots. However, Sabalenka's relentless intensity and match smarts eventually took their toll on the Ukrainian player. As the second set progressed, Sabalenka accelerated her gameplay, forcing Kostyuk into error count mistakes. The victory came after a tense exchange between the two players, which has its roots in comments made by Kostyuk last year. Tensions between the players have been simmering since a frosty postmatch presentation at the French Open in 2023. Despite the tension, Sabalenka congratulated Kostyuk on her performance and expressed hope that they could meet again in another final. In other news, Daniil Medvedev claimed his 22nd title, defeating Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 7-6 (1) in a dominating tiebreaker performance.