Sabalenka wins WTA Brisbane International 2026: Results, Highlights.
Sabalenka Captures Third Brisbane International Title
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) successfully defended her Brisbane International crown, claiming her third title at the event (and 22nd WTA title overall) with a dominant straight-sets win over Marta Kostyuk (Ukraine) in the women's final on January 11, 2026.
Match Result and Performance
Sabalenka defeated Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3 in just 1 hour and 17 minutes at Pat Rafter Arena. This marks her third consecutive appearance in the Brisbane final (having won in 2023 and 2025). She did not drop a single set throughout the tournament, showcasing exceptional form ahead of the Australian Open (starting January 18, 2026). High-Intensity Battle
Kostyuk started aggressively, targeting Sabalenka's second serve and using clever drop shots to briefly recover an early break and rattle the top seed. However, Sabalenka's superior power, baseline intensity, and smart exploitation of the humid Brisbane conditions proved decisive. She won the first set in about 40 minutes with punishing rallies, then accelerated in the second as Kostyuk's error count rose under physical pressure. Sabalenka mixed heavy groundstrokes with deceptive drop shots to seal the victory without ever being seriously threatened. Frosty Post-Match Atmosphere and Gesture
Tensions lingered due to ongoing geopolitical issues (Belarus' ties to Russia amid the Ukraine conflict) and past incidents, including Kostyuk's refusal to shake hands after a 2023 French Open match. After clinching the win, Sabalenka looked toward Kostyuk and kissed both biceps — widely seen as a response to Kostyuk's previous comments (which she said were taken out of context) about Sabalenka having higher testosterone levels than other players. Sabalenka later downplayed it, explaining it was playful banter with her team after hitting powerful winners.During the trophy ceremony, there was no handshake. Kostyuk delivered an emotional speech about Ukraine's hardships — people without light, heat, or warm water in freezing temperatures — thanked Ukrainian fans and flags present, and ended with "Slava Ukraini" (Glory to Ukraine), notably avoiding Sabalenka's name. Sabalenka was gracious, congratulating Kostyuk and hoping for future finals. She added a humorous note about her boyfriend Georgios Frangulis: "Hopefully soon I will call you somehow else. That just put extra pressure, right?" Men's Final: Medvedev Claims 22nd Title
In the men's draw, former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev (Russia) won his 22nd career ATP title, defeating American Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 7-6(1) in 1 hour and 34 minutes. Medvedev dominated early and powered through a commanding tiebreak in the second set after Nakashima's late challenge. This was Medvedev's first Brisbane title (after a 2019 final loss) and a strong start to 2026.Both champions now carry excellent momentum into the Australian Open in Melbourne — a perfect kickoff to the 2026 tennis season!
Sabalenka defeated Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3 in just 1 hour and 17 minutes at Pat Rafter Arena. This marks her third consecutive appearance in the Brisbane final (having won in 2023 and 2025). She did not drop a single set throughout the tournament, showcasing exceptional form ahead of the Australian Open (starting January 18, 2026). High-Intensity Battle
Kostyuk started aggressively, targeting Sabalenka's second serve and using clever drop shots to briefly recover an early break and rattle the top seed. However, Sabalenka's superior power, baseline intensity, and smart exploitation of the humid Brisbane conditions proved decisive. She won the first set in about 40 minutes with punishing rallies, then accelerated in the second as Kostyuk's error count rose under physical pressure. Sabalenka mixed heavy groundstrokes with deceptive drop shots to seal the victory without ever being seriously threatened. Frosty Post-Match Atmosphere and Gesture
Tensions lingered due to ongoing geopolitical issues (Belarus' ties to Russia amid the Ukraine conflict) and past incidents, including Kostyuk's refusal to shake hands after a 2023 French Open match. After clinching the win, Sabalenka looked toward Kostyuk and kissed both biceps — widely seen as a response to Kostyuk's previous comments (which she said were taken out of context) about Sabalenka having higher testosterone levels than other players. Sabalenka later downplayed it, explaining it was playful banter with her team after hitting powerful winners.During the trophy ceremony, there was no handshake. Kostyuk delivered an emotional speech about Ukraine's hardships — people without light, heat, or warm water in freezing temperatures — thanked Ukrainian fans and flags present, and ended with "Slava Ukraini" (Glory to Ukraine), notably avoiding Sabalenka's name. Sabalenka was gracious, congratulating Kostyuk and hoping for future finals. She added a humorous note about her boyfriend Georgios Frangulis: "Hopefully soon I will call you somehow else. That just put extra pressure, right?" Men's Final: Medvedev Claims 22nd Title
In the men's draw, former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev (Russia) won his 22nd career ATP title, defeating American Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 7-6(1) in 1 hour and 34 minutes. Medvedev dominated early and powered through a commanding tiebreak in the second set after Nakashima's late challenge. This was Medvedev's first Brisbane title (after a 2019 final loss) and a strong start to 2026.Both champions now carry excellent momentum into the Australian Open in Melbourne — a perfect kickoff to the 2026 tennis season!
Brisbane International 2026: Women's WTA 500 Singles Full Schedule, Scores & Results
Final– Sunday, January 11
[1] Aryna Sabalenka def [16] Marta Kostyuk 6-4 6-3 SemiFinal– Saturday, January 10
Aryna Sabalenka def Karolina Muchova 6-3 6-4
Marta Kostyuk def Jessica Pegula 6-0 6-3
Second Round Results– Friday, January 9
Second Round Results– Thursday, January 8
Second Round Results– Wednesday, January 7
Aryna Sabalenka (seed 1) beat Cristina Bucsa (ESP) 6-0, 6-1
Diana Shnaider (seed 12) beat Anastasia Potapova 6-1, 6-3
Ekaterina Alexandrova (seed 7) beat Sofia Kenin (USA) 7-6(2), 6-3
Upcoming matches:
Not before 4:30 PM: Sorana Cirstea (ROM) vs Jelena Ostapenko (LAT, seed 14)
Not before 4:30 PM: Karolina Muchova (CZE, seed 11) vs Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS, wildcard)
Not before 6:00 PM: Marie Bouzkova (CZE) vs Paula Badosa (ESP, seed 15)
Not before 9:00 PM: Elena Rybakina (KAZ, seed 3) vs Shuai Zhang (CHN, qualifier)Monday, January 5
Rebecca Sramkova (SVK) def. Kimberly Birrell (AUS) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Shuai Zhang (CHN) [Q] def. Ashlyn Krueger (USA) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
Cristina Bucsa (ESP) def. Anna Bondar (HUN) 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2
Olivia Gadecki (AUS) def. Ann Li (USA) 6-4, 6-4
Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) [LL] def. Hailey Baptiste (USA) 6-2, 6-4
Aliaksandra Sasnovich def. Anna Blinkova 7-5, 6-1
Tereza Valentova (CZE) def. Anna Kalinskaya 6-4, 6-4
Dayana Yastremska (UKR) def. Talia Gibson (AUS) 7-6(3), 7-6(4)
Tatjana Maria (GER) def. Emerson Jones (AUS) 6-3, 6-3
Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) vs. Magdalena Frech (POL) – result pending (match was scheduled but may be incomplete or rescheduled)
Sunday, January 4 McCartney Kessler (USA) def. Emilia Arango (COL) 6-1, 6-3
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) [WC] def. Elsa Jacquemot (FRA) 6-1, 6-3
Anastasia Potapova def. Daria Kasatkina 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
Sorana Cirstea (ROM) def. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-1
Sofia Kenin (USA) def. Gabriela Elena Ruse (ROM) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Marie Bouzkova (CZE) def. Jaqueline Cristian (ROM) 6-4, 6-3Qualifying Results (Completed January 2–3)
Qualifying Round 2 – Saturday, January 3
[1] Aryna Sabalenka def [16] Marta Kostyuk 6-4 6-3 SemiFinal– Saturday, January 10
Aryna Sabalenka def Karolina Muchova 6-3 6-4
Marta Kostyuk def Jessica Pegula 6-0 6-3
3] Elena Rybakina def [11] Karolina Muchova – 6-2 2-6 6-4
[1] Aryna Sabalenka def [5] Madison Keys – 6-3 6-3 → Sabalenka advances
[4] Jessica Pegula def [10] Liudmila Samsonova – 6-3 7-6(3) → Pegula advances
[16] Marta Kostyuk def [6] Mirra Andreeva – 7-6(7) 6-3 → Kostyuk advances
[1] Aryna Sabalenka def [5] Madison Keys – 6-3 6-3 → Sabalenka advances
[4] Jessica Pegula def [10] Liudmila Samsonova – 6-3 7-6(3) → Pegula advances
[16] Marta Kostyuk def [6] Mirra Andreeva – 7-6(7) 6-3 → Kostyuk advances
Aryna Sabalenka (1) def. Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 6-3
Karolina Muchova (11, CZE) def. Ekaterina Alexandrova (7) 6-4, 7-5
Elena Rybakina (3, KAZ) def. Paula Badosa (15, ESP) 6-3, 6-2
Liudmila Samsonova (10) def. Aliaksandra Sasnovich (Q) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 (reversed from earlier info)
Madison Keys (5, USA) def. Diana Shnaider (12) 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-6(4)
Jessica Pegula (4, USA) def. Dayana Yastremska (UKR) (completed after delay)
Mirra Andreeva (6) def. Linda Noskova (9, CZE) 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 (adjusted from suspended)
Marta Kostyuk (16, UKR) def. Amanda Anisimova (2, USA) (completed)
Karolina Muchova (11, CZE) def. Ekaterina Alexandrova (7) 6-4, 7-5
Elena Rybakina (3, KAZ) def. Paula Badosa (15, ESP) 6-3, 6-2
Liudmila Samsonova (10) def. Aliaksandra Sasnovich (Q) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 (reversed from earlier info)
Madison Keys (5, USA) def. Diana Shnaider (12) 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-6(4)
Jessica Pegula (4, USA) def. Dayana Yastremska (UKR) (completed after delay)
Mirra Andreeva (6) def. Linda Noskova (9, CZE) 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 (adjusted from suspended)
Marta Kostyuk (16, UKR) def. Amanda Anisimova (2, USA) (completed)
Dayana Yastremska def. Leylah Fernandez 6-1, 6-2
Jessica Pegula def. Anna Kalinskaya 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
Aliaksandra Sasnovich def. Clara Tauson 6-2, 6-3
Liudmila Samsonova def. Emerson Jones 6-4, 6-1
Linda Noskova def. Magdalena Frech 6-7, 6-4, 6-4
Mirra Andreeva def. Olivia Gadecki 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
Marta Kostyuk def. Yulia Putintseva 7-6, 1-6, 6-0
Amanda Anisimova def. Kimberly Birrell 6-1, 6-3
Top seeds like Sabalenka, Anisimova, Rybakina, and Pegula advance strongly. Round of 16 action continues!
Second Round Results– Tuesday, January 6
Madison Keys (USA, seed 5) beat McCartney Kessler (USA) 6-4, 6-3Jessica Pegula def. Anna Kalinskaya 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
Aliaksandra Sasnovich def. Clara Tauson 6-2, 6-3
Liudmila Samsonova def. Emerson Jones 6-4, 6-1
Linda Noskova def. Magdalena Frech 6-7, 6-4, 6-4
Mirra Andreeva def. Olivia Gadecki 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
Marta Kostyuk def. Yulia Putintseva 7-6, 1-6, 6-0
Amanda Anisimova def. Kimberly Birrell 6-1, 6-3
Top seeds like Sabalenka, Anisimova, Rybakina, and Pegula advance strongly. Round of 16 action continues!
Aryna Sabalenka (seed 1) beat Cristina Bucsa (ESP) 6-0, 6-1
Diana Shnaider (seed 12) beat Anastasia Potapova 6-1, 6-3
Ekaterina Alexandrova (seed 7) beat Sofia Kenin (USA) 7-6(2), 6-3
Upcoming matches:
Not before 4:30 PM: Sorana Cirstea (ROM) vs Jelena Ostapenko (LAT, seed 14)
Not before 4:30 PM: Karolina Muchova (CZE, seed 11) vs Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS, wildcard)
Not before 6:00 PM: Marie Bouzkova (CZE) vs Paula Badosa (ESP, seed 15)
Not before 9:00 PM: Elena Rybakina (KAZ, seed 3) vs Shuai Zhang (CHN, qualifier)Monday, January 5
Rebecca Sramkova (SVK) def. Kimberly Birrell (AUS) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Shuai Zhang (CHN) [Q] def. Ashlyn Krueger (USA) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
Cristina Bucsa (ESP) def. Anna Bondar (HUN) 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2
Olivia Gadecki (AUS) def. Ann Li (USA) 6-4, 6-4
Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) [LL] def. Hailey Baptiste (USA) 6-2, 6-4
Aliaksandra Sasnovich def. Anna Blinkova 7-5, 6-1
Tereza Valentova (CZE) def. Anna Kalinskaya 6-4, 6-4
Dayana Yastremska (UKR) def. Talia Gibson (AUS) 7-6(3), 7-6(4)
Tatjana Maria (GER) def. Emerson Jones (AUS) 6-3, 6-3
Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) vs. Magdalena Frech (POL) – result pending (match was scheduled but may be incomplete or rescheduled)
Sunday, January 4 McCartney Kessler (USA) def. Emilia Arango (COL) 6-1, 6-3
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) [WC] def. Elsa Jacquemot (FRA) 6-1, 6-3
Anastasia Potapova def. Daria Kasatkina 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
Sorana Cirstea (ROM) def. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-1
Sofia Kenin (USA) def. Gabriela Elena Ruse (ROM) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Marie Bouzkova (CZE) def. Jaqueline Cristian (ROM) 6-4, 6-3Qualifying Results (Completed January 2–3)
Qualifying Round 2 – Saturday, January 3
- Anna Bondar (HUN) def. Katie Volynets (USA) 6-1, 2-6, 6-3
- Aliaksandra Sasnovich def. Maria Timofeeva (UZB) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
- Rebecca Sramkova (SVK) def. Kamila Rakhimova (UZB) 6-1, 6-2
- Shuai Zhang (CHN) def. Taylah Preston (AUS) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
- Olivia Gadecki (AUS) def. Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 (Putintseva entered main draw as Lucky Loser)
- Gabriela Elena Ruse (ROM) def. Zeynap Sonmez (TUR) 3-6, 6-4, 6-0
- Anna Bondar (HUN) def. Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) 6-4, 7-6
- Katie Volynets (USA) def. Rebeka Masarova (SUI) 6-4, 6-4
- And additional matches leading to the above qualifiers.
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