The Brisbane International final on January 11 saw World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka successfully defend her title with a straight‑sets win over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. While the Belarusian’s victory further cemented her status as one of the most dominant players in Australia, the post‑match ceremony quickly took on a different tone. Kostyuk’s runner‑up speech in front of the packed Pat Rafter Arena became the main talking point as her words carried weight far beyond the result on court.
Marta Kostyuk’s Emotional Speech After Losing to Aryna Sabalenka in Brisbane International Final
Kostyuk was unable to cap off a breakthrough week as she fell 6-4, 6-3 to Sabalenka in the Brisbane final, during which she defeated three top‑10 opponents. After the match, however, the 23‑year‑old shifted the focus away from tennis and turned her speech into a heartfelt message about the war in Ukraine and the realities facing her family back home.
“First of all, I want to say a few words about Ukraine,” Kostyuk said in her runner-up speech. “I play every day with a pain in my heart. There are thousands of people who are without light, warm water right now. It’s -20 degrees outside, so very, very painful to live this reality every day. It’s very hot here in Brisbane, so it’s difficult to imagine this, but my sister is sleeping under three blankets because of how cold it is at home.”
Kostyuk then thanked the organizers and the crowd for their support during the entire week. “I want to say thank you to all the volunteers, all the kids, Martina, everyone involved in creating this tournament, ANZ, and the Queensland government, and hundreds and thousands of people who make this tournament possible for us, and thank you to the amazing crowd this week. I had an unbelievable week; it was amazing.”
MORE: Aryna Sabalenka – Marta Kostyuk Feud: Fiery Comments, Dramatic Moments, and All to Know
She then thanked the Ukrainian fans for their support, her team, and her husband, “I was incredibly moved and happy to see so many Ukrainian fans and flags this week too. I want to thank my team. I’m sorry I lost another final. Maybe next time, not maybe, but for sure. Thank you so much for your support. Thank you to my husband for being by my side.”
Marta Kostyuk spoke about Ukraine after her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in the Brisbane final
“I wanna say a few words about Ukraine. I play every day with pain in my heart. There are thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now. It’s -20 degrees outside. It’s… pic.twitter.com/nTsG6rTgBz
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 11, 2026
Notably, Kostyuk didn’t mention, let alone congratulate, Sabalenka, which is always a part of a runner-up speech. She did, however, thank her opponents throughout the week by saying, “I want to thank all of the opponents that I played this week. You guys make me better every week, every day. Very happy to be on this journey.”
On the other hand, Sabalenka opened her speech by congratulating her opponent, saying, “I want to start with congratulating Marta and her team on an incredible start. I wish you all the best this season. It seems like it’s going to be great tennis, and I hope that we’re going to meet each other many more times in the finals to show great tennis.”
Aryna Sabalenka after beating Kostyuk in the Brisbane final:
“First I want to congratulate Marta and her team on an incredible start to the season. I wish you all the best. I hope we meet many more times in the finals to show great tennis” pic.twitter.com/ouVt8YyqN5
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 11, 2026
This incident wasn’t surprising, considering Kostyuk’s tense history with the World No. 1.
MORE: Aryna Sabalenka, Marta Kostyuk’s Likely Handshake Rejection, ‘Awkward’ Speeches Steal Spotlight as Spicy Brisbane Final Confirmed
Sabalenka’s Australian Dominance Continues as She Heads to Melbourne
Sabalenka registered a 6-4, 6-3 victory in one hour and 19 minutes, keeping Kostyuk under pressure from the opening games. The result extended Sabalenka’s head‑to‑head lead over the Ukrainian to 5–0, with all five meetings won in straight sets since their first match in 2022.
On her way to a third consecutive Brisbane International final and 22nd WTA singles title, Sabalenka didn’t drop a single set. She overcame Cristina Bucșa, Sorana Cirstea, Madison Keys, and Karolína Muchová before beating her Ukrainian opponent. The World No. 1 is now headed to Melbourne to chase a third Australian Open title.
Kostyuk is expected to compete in Adelaide after an amazing week in Brisbane. On her way to the final, she beat Yulia Putintseva, Amanda Anisimova, Mirra Andreeva, and Jessica Pegula. It would be interesting to see how the Ukrainian performs and the momentum she carries into the Australian Open.
