At the Brisbane International, the finals are casting a spotlight on dreamers and underdogs. Aryna Sabalenka stands as the only top-seeded player to reach the finals in both the men’s and women’s draws. Dominating the women’s draw, she is set to face Polina Kudermetova, who, beginning as a qualifier ranked 107, has advanced to her maiden WTA final after a series of impressive victories.
Sabalenka, a repeated winner with two Australian Open titles, showcased her fierce skills by defeating Mirra Andreeva, yet acknowledges the need to refine her game’s variety. Meanwhile, Kudermetova’s remarkable journey includes a notable win over world number nine Daria Kasatkina, making her the third qualifier to reach the WTA Brisbane International final.
On the men’s side, Reilly Opelka’s inspiring comeback is of particular note. After sidelining injuries for two years, his compelling defeat of top seed Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals catalyzed his return, propelling him to the finals, even while grappling with a wrist issue that required two operations. Despite these challenges, Opelka triumphed over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, powering through the injury to reach the final with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) win.
In a twist of fate, the other men’s semifinal saw Grigor Dimitrov succumbing to a hip injury, allowing Jiří Lehečka to step forward into the final. Lehečka, demonstrating formidable serves and precision, is preparing to face Opelka with solid form and strategy against the American’s immense serves.
As the event draws to a thrilling conclusion, fans are eager to witness if Opelka’s resilience and Kudermetova’s unexpected rise can culminate in fairytale victories, or if seasoned Sabalenka and powerful Lehečka will assert their dominance in the finals.
