Aryna Sabalenka ended her 20-month title drought, as she claimed her 11th career singles title with a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Czech player Linda Noskova in the Adelaide International 1 final on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This is World No.5 Sabalenka's first title since she took the crown at Madrid in May of 2021, where she beat Australian Ashleigh Barty<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It is the third time Sabalenka has won a title in the opening week of the season. She pulled off the same feat with Week 1 titles in both 2019 (Shenzhen) and 2021 (Abu Dhabi), according to WTA.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sabalenka hit 12 aces and saved all three break points she faced in the final match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Both the players dodged a pair of early break points, but Sabalenka took control by breaking for 4-2 behind a powerful backhand. She raced through the rest of the first set, dropping only one more point on her delivery as she deployed excellent serves and forehands.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Noskova, who was playing in her first career final, kept the second set much closer, and the teen was two points away from levelling the match after slamming a return winner for deuce at 5-4. However, the second set eventually moved into a tiebreak.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the tie-breaker, Noskova fired two early double faults that Sabalenka used to her advantage, powering her way to 5-1. A winning passing shot gave Sabalenka triple championship point at 6-3, and she hit one last serve on her second match point.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The loss brought an end to a breakout week for the 18-year-old Noskova, who saved match points in her opening round of qualifying against Anna Kalinskaya and in the quarterfinals against Victoria Azarenka to reach her maiden tour final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
She claimed her first two top-10 wins over Daria Kasatkina and top seed Ons Jabeur en route to the final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Obviously a very tough match today. Aryna played just amazing," Noskova said. "I didn't have a lot of chances. I did have some break points, but she always served her way out of it. That was really tough to beat."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I think that when I trust myself and my game especially, I can just freely go for it, I can definitely play and actually beat some of the best players in the world right now," Noskova said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"That's really great feeling. But I'm obviously going to have to develop my game. There are a lot of blind spots. There are always things to work on, I think," she added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Having started the week just outside the top 100 Noskova was bound for Melbourne as the new world No.56.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"That's really great feeling. But I'm obviously going to have to develop my game. There are a lot of blind spots. There are always things to work on, I think," she added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n