ADELAIDE: Aryna Sabalenka warmed up for the Australian Open by capturing her 11th WTA Tour title with a 6-3, 7-6(4) win over teenaged Czech qualifier Linda Noskova in the Adelaide International 1 final on Sunday.
The big-hitting Sabalenka made a sluggish start to the WTA 500 event this week before hitting her stride and she was flying in the first set against the giant-killing 18-year-old, taking charge of rallies from the baseline to grab the advantage.
Noskova, who had defeated ailing top seed Ons Jabeur in the semifinal after wins over the higher-ranked Daria Kasatkina and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, took the tight second set to a tiebreak where Sabalenka switched gears.
A crosscourt winner set up three match points for Sabalenka and the world No 5 double-faulted before closing out the contest with a booming serve for her first title in almost two years and a boost before the Jan 16-29 Australian Open.