Brisbane International | Aryna Sabalenka marches past Sorana Cirstea, Elena Rybakina eases past Badosa as Karolina Muchova also shines

The Brisbane International through the night showcased a leading trio of players to watch this week as Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Karolina Muchova all surged into the Quarter-Finals with statement displays.

Sabalenka had only met Sorana Cirstea once but had a losing record against her albeit all the way back at Miami in 2023 so three years ago as of this spring but ahead of the Romanian's retirement from tennis at the end of the season, Sabalenka got a modicum of revenge if revenge was a dish to be served in the first place.

Cirstea has been ironically in wonderful form and despite heading to retirement multiple time, she has yet to find a real stopping point ironically finding form again when it looks like her career is about to fade away. Sabalenka defeated the Romanian this time 6-3, 6-3 in just over an hour. It keeps her title defence alive and also sees her into the Quarter-Finals albeit when asked about her previous loss to Cirstea, it is a mirage in the mind of the World No.1.

“I don’t remember our last match on the hard courts,” Sabalenka said in her on-court interview. “Probably, it’s for good [reason]. She’s an incredible player, always pushing me really hard. Especially in the second set, it was really great from her.

“I’m super happy I was able to close this match in straight sets. I was just trying to focus on my game, on going into this match and the things I have to do to get the win.”

She opened with a break finishing the game with a backhand winner but Cirstea was wise to the early onslaught as she broke immediately and levelled the match hanging on to her serve for a good period of time before Sabalenka broke for 3-2. Despite this resistance, Sabalenka would go on to convert a fourth set point to seal a third break and take the opening set.

Sabalenka led again 4-3 in the second and earned three break points to all herself to streak out in front. Cirstea saved them rattling off four straight points but Sabalenka answered with a three point salvo to break and move to within a game. Cirstea had a break point next game to keep in contention but Sabalenka held firm and won the final three points to close out the contest.

Sabalenka will now face either Madison Keys or Diana Shnaider and she would perhaps prefer Keys given in the early stages of her tie against Shnaider she has appeared to be struggling with an injury so isn't at 100%.

Elena Rybakina is firing though. Her brutal power was on full display as she swatted aside Paula Badosa. Ending the season as the WTA Finals champion, Rybakina has seemingly continued where she left off.

She followed an easy win over Zhang Shuai with a straight sets thumping of Paula Badosa 6-3, 6-2 needing just an hour and 25 minutes to claim the win.

The scoreline did not tell of the dominance at points though with Rybakina being poor to start it off but after Badosa had won the first seven points of the match to capture an early break and a 2-0 lead, it was lights out tennis from there.

Rybakina broke straight back and made it 2-2. Badosa held next game and Rybakina reeled off four straight games. She also dominated the second as Rybakina raced into a 3-0 lead. Badosa added two games herself but Ryabkina eased through to seal the win.

Karolina Muchova is also looking superb. Having her close friend Priscilla Hon living in Brisbane likely helps her as it has Amanda Anisimova it seems thus far with both who are close with the fellow WTA star being two of the top stars this week.

Muchova saw off top 10 star Ekaterina Alexandrova in a pretty wonderful display winning 6-4, 7-5. The Czech ace has always flirted with having a top five game but injuries have always been an issue. A thorn in the side for those who root for her but when she is on, she is on and this was one of those days.

She has also been joined by Liudmila Samsonova who saw off Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Also up today include Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova and Mirra Andreeva all aiming for Quarter-Final spots but for Sabalenka, Rybakina and Muchova, it is a hard act to follow.