The 2026 Brisbane International began in emphatic fashion as Aryna Sabalenka wasted little time reminding the field why she sits atop the rankings. The top seed swept past Spain’s Cristina Bucsa 6-0, 6-1 in under an hour, striking the ball cleanly and dictating play from the opening game in a performance that doubled as a warning shot ahead of the Australian Open.
While Sabalenka cruised, the men’s draw delivered early intrigue as home favorite Nick Kyrgios exited at the first hurdle. Playing his first singles match in nearly a year, Kyrgios fell in straight sets to American Aleksandar Kovacevic, showing flashes of his trademark shot-making but lacking match sharpness after a long injury layoff.
Australian interest remained alive elsewhere, with Rinky Hijikata advancing confidently to keep local hopes intact. Hijikata’s straight-sets victory steadied a day that saw several Australian men bow out early, underlining the depth and difficulty of a men’s field stacked with proven tour performers and dangerous floaters.
On the women’s side, seeded players largely held serve as Elena Rybakina, Karolina Muchova, and Ekaterina Alexandrova all booked their places in the next round. Ajla Tomljanovic pushed Muchova deep into a three-set battle before exiting, earning plaudits for her resilience despite falling just short in a tense deciding-set tiebreak.
With crisp conditions and packed stands setting the scene, the opening day in Brisbane offered a snapshot of the form and storylines likely to shape the Australian summer. As the draw tightens and bigger clashes loom, the early message is clear: sharpness is already at a premium, and there will be few gentle starts from here.
