Sabalenka Stays Hot, Wins Abu Dhabi Over Kudermetova

The hottest player to end 2020 showed no signs of slowing down in this new year. Arnya Sabalenka won his 15th straight match and in doing so took home the Abu Dhabi title blasting past Veronika Kudermetova 6-2, 6-2.

“I was doing everything I could in each match from the beginning, and I’m really happy to start this season with a title,” Sabalenka said following the hour-long final.

“Every final is really something special, and I would say, finals are a different competition,” the Belarusian stated. “This final was really nice, and I would say a really fast game.”

Sabalenka earns her ninth career WTA title and her third straight after finishing last year with back-to-back wins in Ostrava and Linz.

The Belarussian finished with 18 winners to 13 unforced to Kudermetova’s 13 winners and 24 unforced. Her 15-match win-streak is her career-long.

“I’m really happy to keep winning, and I’ll do everything I can to keep winning!” Sabalenka said. “Nobody likes to lose.”

The 23-year-old Kudermetova was appearing in her first WTA final.

In the semifinals, Sabalenka beat Maria Sakkari in three sets while Kudermetova backed up her stunning quarterfinal win over Elina Svitolina by defeating Marta Kostyuk.

“I’m really proud that I was fighting no matter what,” said Sabalenka. “Some matches, I didn’t feel my serve, some matches I didn’t feel my forehand or backhand, but I would just keep fighting, finding my shots, and that this is what I’m really proud of, and really happy with this title.”

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