It’s showtime down under, with the tennis events kicking off thick and fast this month. Brisbane plays host to a good chunk of the action next week in the form of a WTA 500 and ATP 250 tournament.
If you’re like me and you’ve been baking on a beach (the perks of living in the southern hemisphere) instead of tracking the latest tennis news, then don’t worry. I’ve got myself back up to speed already, and I’ll do the same for you below. Read on for a look at everything you need to know about the Brisbane International, including when the draw is, what players will be competing, and who I’m tipping to take out the first singles events of the season.
When is the Brisbane International draw?
The tournament itself kicks off on Sunday, January 4, for both the men and women. Surprisingly, the draw is being done just 24 hours ahead of the first round action, on Saturday, January 3. That’s Australian time, so it’ll likely be in the wee hours of Saturday morning for our European readers.
That said, we do know who will be competing already in the men’s and women’s events. Here are the top names for each draw in Brisbane.
Brisbane International – key men’s players
- Daniil Medvedev
- Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
- Jiri Lehecka
- Tommy Paul
- Denis Shapovalov
- Joao Fonseca
- Frances Tiafoe
- Nick Kyrgios
Brisbane International – key women’s players
- Aryna Sabalenka
- Amanda Anisimova
- Elena Rybakina
- Jessica Pegula
- Madison Keys
- Mirra Andreeva
- Ekaterina Alexandrova
What to look out for at the Brisbane International
Obviously there are a myriad of things to look out for this week, given we’ve not seen any tennis action for a month or two. Still, for those who are only able to catch a limited amount of the action, here are the storylines I’d recommend keeping an eye on.
Can Kyrgios compete, or is he just having fun?
Kyrgios takes a wildcard into the Brisbane International, having played just a handful of matches in the past three years. Most recently, he was seen on court in the absolute debarkle that was his ‘Battle of the Sexes’ against Sabalenka. Given he’s pairing up with his mate Thanasi Kokkinakis in the doubles here, is he just turning up for a bit of fun and in an attempt to stay relevant?
His fitness seemed far from where it needed to be against Sabalenka, so I’m leaning towards the latter, unless he shows me something else next week.
Bet on the ATP Brisbane matches over at BetAnything (USA friendly) or at 20Bet.
Is Andreeva over the disappointment of 2025?
Andreeva began 2025 so well, picking up back-to-back WTA 1000 titles and cracking the world’s top five. This momentum fizzled in the second half of the year though, so much so that she was pipped in the final week of the regular season by Elena Rybakina for a WTA Finals spot. That had to have stung, and it’s easy to see the teen – let’s not forget she’s just 18 – being in a bit of a rut.
Equally, the off-season may have been the perfect reboot, and Andreeva could turn up in Brisbane as a locked-in title threat. Her first match or two will tell a lot–as will the latter stages of the tournament, if she runs into the likes of Sabalenka or Rybakina.
Was Medvedev’s late resurgence genuine?
Last season was a steep decline for former world No 1 Medvedev, who won one match at majors all year (this is the guy who was two-sets-to-love up on Jannik Sinner in the 2024 Australian Open final). However, back-to-back semi-finals in Beijing and Shanghai, paired with a title in Almaty and a quarter-final run in Paris did see him end 2025 strong. Was that a new dawn, or a flash in the pan amidst an otherwise downward trend?
If Medvedev can turn up and win Brisbane, beating a top-20 player or two along the way, that would do wonders for my confidence in him heading into Melbourne.
Has Fonseca taken steps forward physically?
We all know the talent Fonseca possesses. At this stage of his career, it’s just his body that is limiting how fast he can rise up the rankings and potentially challenge the Sincaraz duopoly.
I’m keen to see what kind of progress he’s made over the off-season. Has he been able to hit the weights and get himself a half-step faster? Is he able to defend in and out of the corners with more ease? What’s his endurance looking like in a three-hour-long match under the Aussie heat?
Yes it’s only been two months for the Brazilian, but it’s these kinds of off-seasons that can be formative for a young player. Remember when Alcaraz arrived at the start of 2022, suddenly looking like a fully grown man?
2026 Brisbane International predictions
Picking winners when we haven’t seen any tennis action for a few months is asking for tears. Still, it’s what I get paid to do, so here’s who I’m tipping will take out each event in Brisbane.
Aryna Sabalenka to defend her title
Here are Sabalenka’s records in Australian over the past three seasons:
- 11-1 (2025)
- 12-1 (2024)
- 11-0 (2023)
That’s right. Since 2023, she’s 34-2 in Aussie events. The woman is a freak when she lands down under. That includes a title at this tournament last year, and the runner-up honor the year before. Something about the proximity to the off-season, the hardcourts, the warm weather and the people: it all works for her.
Despite how strong the Brisbane field is for the women’s event in 2026, I just can’t pick against the Belarusian.
Joao Fonseca to start strong again
This is a slightly bolder pick, but hear me out. This time last year, Fonseca went on a tear, winning the NextGen Finals, the Canberra Challenger, qualifying for the Australian Open and upsetting Andrey Rublev en route to the third round, then bagging his maiden ATP title in Buenos Aires.
Given Fonseca is still just 19 years old, it’s no surprise that he operates well at the start of the season. He will have just spent time at home with family and friends, and be locked in on his goals without the erosion of time on the road. I’m picking him to come to Brisbane off another good off-season and carry on his momentum from late 2025 (won the ATP 500 in Basel) with a big run in Brisbane.
