The match concluded after one hour 17 minutes, with a 6-4, 6-3 victory for Sabalenka, marking the 22nd title of the Belarusian star's career. This served as excellent preparation for the world number one female tennis player as she heads into the Australian Open next week.

Sabalenka celebrates her title on Pat Rafter Arena, Brisbane, Australia on 11/1. Photo: Reuters

Sabalenka celebrates her title on Pat Rafter Arena, Brisbane, Australia on 11/1. Photo: Reuters

However, the highlight of the match was Kostyuk's conduct, who has repeatedly criticized Sabalenka since the conflict began in her home country of Ukraine. "I want to talk about the situation in my country, where the temperature is currently -20 degrees celsius," Kostyuk shared during the awards ceremony. "My sister has to sleep with three blankets because there is no heating system. I am happy to see many Ukrainian flags here. I want the world to know that."

Kostyuk, 23 years old and ranked 26th in the world, once suggested that Sabalenka's testosterone levels gave her an advantage over other female players. She opposes the world number one due to her Belarusian nationality, a country supporting Russia in the war in Ukraine. Despite her high determination, Kostyuk has lost all four encounters with Sabalenka.

"I congratulate Kostyuk and her team," Sabalenka said during the awards ceremony. "I hope we have many more opportunities to compete."

In the subsequent press conference, Sabalenka was more open when discussing the conflict with Kostyuk. She stated: "Not shaking hands is their stance. I don't mind. When I enter a match, for me, it's all just tennis. I don't care if the opponent is Kostyuk or Jessica Pegula, an American. I don't need to prove anything; I just compete as an athlete."

Kostyuk hits a backhand during her match against Sabalenka on 11/1.

Like her Russian counterparts, Sabalenka is competing on the WTA tour as a neutral player, with the Belarusian flag not appearing on any scoreboard bearing her name. Nevertheless, this detail has hardly affected their performance and achievements over many years. Sabalenka remains the world number one, while Russian players maintain stability in the top group of both men's and women's rankings.

Kostyuk holds Ukrainian nationality but currently lives and trains as a resident of Monaco.

Vy Anh