In Pictures: Aryna Sabalenka, Matteo Berrettini, Paula Badosa & Others Delight in Adorable Koala Plushie Gift at Brisbane International
The 2025 tennis season is officially in full swing, and top players like Aryna Sabalenka, Paula Badosa, Matteo Berrettini, and others have gathered in Brisbane for the prestigious Brisbane International tournament. Upon arrival, the athletes were greeted with an unexpected treat—a cute koala plushie that quickly became the talk of the event.
The Brisbane International shared a series of vibrant photos on Instagram, capturing players joyfully posing with their new koala companions. The post featured familiar faces such as Sabalenka, Berrettini, Badosa, Heather Watson, Rinky Hijikata, Samantha Stosur, Magda Linette, Daria Saville, and more, all smiling alongside their plush toys. The caption read:
“Our Mascot Bounce is back this year and he’s doing the rounds 🐨”
Aryna Sabalenka, who enjoyed a stellar 2024 season, carried her form into the Brisbane International, reaching the finals once again. She demonstrated her strength by defeating tough competitors like Lucia Bronzetti, Zhu Lin, Daria Kasatkina, and Victoria Azarenka, before falling to Elena Rybakina in the final, with a score of 6-0, 6-3.
As the 2025 tournament approaches, Sabalenka is ready to make her mark again, especially after ending the previous year as World No. 1, despite missing out on the WTA Finals title.
In a recent interview with BBC Sport, Sabalenka reflected on her goals for the upcoming season:
“There are so many things to improve,” she admitted. “I’m not as strong at the net in singles as I want to be. My touch game needs work, and even my serve can get better. There’s always room to grow.”
Sabalenka emphasized the importance of the pre-season for fine-tuning her game:
“The pre-season is all about hard work. The first tournament is a chance to experiment and see what works. I have so many great memories from Brisbane, and I can’t wait to get back on the court.”
With 17 singles titles and six doubles titles already to her name, Sabalenka is set for another thrilling and challenging season ahead.
