Brisbane International 2026: Sabalenka and Medvedev Claim Victory

Season Opener Sets the Stage for Australian Open

The Brisbane International 2026 opened the new tennis season from January 4 to 11 at the Queensland Tennis Centre, serving as a crucial warm-up event for the Australian Open. This is the fifteenth edition of the tournament and featured both ATP 250 and WTA 500 events, attracting some of the world’s top tennis talent to Brisbane, Queensland.

Sabalenka Dominates Women’s Singles

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka has captured her second consecutive Brisbane International title, and 22nd overall, with a straight sets victory over Marta Kostyuk on Sunday. It was the third year in a row Sabalanka appeared in the final and the Belorussian player looked in comfortable surroundings as she closed out a 6-4, 6-3 victory in just 1 hour and 17 minutes at Pat Rafter Arena. The world number one demonstrated exceptional form throughout the tournament, not dropping a single set all week.

Medvedev Secures Men’s Title

In the men’s final, Daniil Medvedev won his 22nd title after easing past Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 7-6 (1). The former No. 1-ranked Russian player completed victory over his American opponent with a dominating tiebreaker in the second set, claiming the first five points to take the match in one hour and 34 minutes. This marks Medvedev’s first title of the 2026 season.

Significance for the Australian Open

The Brisbane International is a tuneup event for this year’s Australian Open, which begins Jan 18. Both champions will look to carry their momentum into Melbourne, with Sabalenka seeking her third consecutive Australian Open title. The tournament’s position as the inaugural event of the 2026 tennis season makes it particularly important for players seeking to build confidence and match fitness ahead of the year’s first Grand Slam. For tennis fans worldwide, the Brisbane International delivered world-class competition and set an exciting tone for the season ahead.