Sabalenka Sails Past Cirstea in Brisbane, Sets Rematch of AO Final with Keys in Quarters

When it comes to Brisbane these days, it is Aryna Sabalenka’s world and the rest of the WTA are just living in it.

The defending champ fired 31 winners to just 10 for Sorana Cirstea and emerged with a 6-3 6-3 triumph to reach the quarterfinals at Brisbane.

“That was a great match,” Sabalenka said. “She played really well, and she always push me really hard. I’m happy that I was focused from the beginning until the end. I think with her, she can come back any time, so you’ve got to stay really focused, and I did it pretty well today.”

Sabalenka improves to 15-1 lifetime at Brisbane.

She’s been busy off the court as well, sending up previews of her surf-inspired Australian Open kit.

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She’s got her eyes on reclaiming the crown in Australia, after her three-peat bid was snapped in last year’s Aussie Open final by Madison Keys. Revenge will be a theme on Friday in Brisbane, as she will meet Keys in a rematch of that final.

Keys got past Diana Shnaider in a full-throttle battle. She rallied from a set and break down to win in three hours on the nose, 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-6(4).

Both players struggled physically to get through the match, which could work in Sabalenka’s favor on Friday.

“Here, specifically in Australia, of course I’d like to get the revenge,” she told reporters,” when asked of the prospect of facing the American. “If it’s going to be Keys, it’s going to be, as always, a great battle, really aggressive tennis. I’m excited to face her.

“The focus is always the same, is to get better, improve your game, and go out there and try new things and be a better player than you have been last time,” she said.