Aryna Sabalenka overcomes a tough match against Yulia Putintseva in Brisbane - UBITENNIS

Aryna Sabalenka overcomes a tough match against Yulia Putintseva in Brisbane

By sampaolo
2 Min Read

World number 1 Aryna Sabalenka came back from 3-5 down in the opening set to beat number 15 seed Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 in 1 hour and 49 minutes at the Brisbane International. Sabalenka has improved to 2-1 in her head-to-head matches against Putintseva. 

Putintseva beat Sabalenka 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in the 2019 US Open. Putintseva led 6-1 4-3 in the third round of the 2024 Wuhan Open, but Sabalenka turned around the match by beating Putintseva 1-6 6-4 6-0

It was a tough match, that could have gone in a different way if Putintseva managed to close out the first set when she was just points from winning it. 

Putintseva saved two break points in the fourth game before earning the first break of the match in the seventh game and held serve to open up a 5-3 lead. Putintseva won the first two points to take a 30-0 lead in the eighth game, as she had a chance to serve out for the opening set in the 10th game. Putintseva lost the next three points. Sabalenka did not convert her first break point, but she converted her third chance. Putintseva took a 2-1 lead in the tie-break, but Sabalenka reeled off the next six points to seal the tie-break 7-2. The three-time Grand Slam champion went up a set and a break in the first game. She held on her serve in her service games to seal the second set 6-4. Sabalenka will take on Marie Bouzkova, who beat the world number 1 player 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the Washington semifinal last August drawing level to 1-1 in their head-to head matches. 

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