BRISBANE (Reuters) -Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka geared up for her title defence at the year's opening Grand Slam with a battling 4-6 6-3 6-2 win over Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova in the final of the Brisbane International on Sunday.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in opposite sides of the draw for the season’s first major, ruling out a replay of last year’s semifinal

Seven former Australian Open champions are competing across both singles draws in 2025. That includes reigning champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, though a few ex-winners will perhaps hope returning to a happy hunting ground can spark some much-needed magic.

Top seed Jannik Sinner will begin his Australian Open title defence against Nicolas Jarry while women's champion Aryna Sabalenka takes on Sloane Stephens after the draw for the year's first Grand Slam was made at Melbourne Park on Thursday.

Novak Djokovic is targeting an 11th Australian Open title and record 25th Grand Slam crown but faces an uphill battle against Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. - Carlos Alcaraz - Still just 21, the Spaniard already owns four Grand Slam titles -- including the French Open and Wimbledon last year -- since bursting on the scene with victory at the US Open in 2022.