Elena sounds early warning

Brisbane – Elena Rybakina (above) will head to the Australian Open full of confidence after demolishing Aryna Sabalenka in the Brisbane International final yesterday, while Grigor Dimitrov upset Holger Rune to win his first title since 2017.

Rybakina, who will now become world No 3, won the first eight games in a row on her way to a 6-0, 6-3 win in just 73 minutes over the Australian Open champion in a repeat of the 2023 Melbourne Park final.

It was her sixth WTA title and comes a week before the first Grand Slam of the year.

“For sure it gives me confidence,” she said about her Australian Open prospects.

“But this week is just the beginning for all the players. I feel like maybe not everyone is in the best form yet.

“I’m playing well now, so hopefully, as I said, I continue.”

The 2022 Wimbledon winner was in irresistible form all week, spending only three hours and 40 minutes on court in her four matches.

The final was expected to be a different challenge – the two players had met seven times previously with all but two of those matches going to three tough sets, including last year’s Australian Open final.

But Rybakina soon put those expectations to bed with a blistering start, racing through the first set in 24 minutes, only dropping three points on serve.

Rybakina admitted she was surprised at her form after being sick in the lead-up and unable to practise before the tournament because of rain.

“Also the first few days here it was really tough with the jet lag and everything,” she said.

“I’m just pleased with the way I started the tournament because I was not feeling the greatest physically after the illness and everything. Hopefully we’ll do better at the Australian Open.”

Bulgaria’s Dimitrov claimed his first title since 2017 with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 win over Denmark’s world No 8 Rune.

Dimitrov was once touted as the player most likely to break the stranglehold that Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray had at the top of the men’s game. –