The dust has finally settled at the Queensland Tennis Centre, and honestly, the draw for Brisbane International 2026 felt more like a mini-Grand Slam than a simple warm-up event. If you were watching Pat Rafter Arena this January, you saw a bracket that didn't just play out—it exploded. We saw world number ones reasserting their dominance while supposed "locks" for the final fell earlier than anyone expected.
It was wild.
Coming into the week, all eyes were on the return of big names and the heavy hitters of the WTA and ATP. With seven of the world's top 10 women in the mix, the path to the trophy was never going to be easy. For those trying to figure out how these results impact the rest of the Aussie summer, the draw offered some pretty blunt answers.
The Sabalenka Steamroller and the Women's Bracket
Aryna Sabalenka basically treated the draw for Brisbane International like her own personal practice session. She didn't drop a single set the entire week. That’s not just good form; that’s terrifying for the rest of the tour.
She was the top seed for a reason. Her path started with a bye, but as the rounds progressed, the quality of her opponents skyrocketed. In the quarterfinals, she faced Madison Keys. People were calling it a "revenge match" after what happened at Melbourne Park last year. Sabalenka didn't just win; she soared.
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Semifinal Tension
The real test—at least on paper—was the semifinal against the number 11 seed, Karolina Muchova. Muchova had already taken out Elena Rybakina in the quarters, which was a massive shock to the system for many fans. But Sabalenka’s power was just too much.
The final was a bit of a surprise matchup. Marta Kostyuk, the 16th seed, had a career-defining week. She dismantled Amanda Anisimova (the number 2 seed) and then cruised past Jessica Pegula. Honestly, nobody had Kostyuk making the final when the draw was first released. Sabalenka ended her dream run with a 6-4, 6-3 victory, securing back-to-back Brisbane titles.
Medvedev and the Men's Draw Chaos
Over on the ATP side, the draw for Brisbane International was a bit more of a rollercoaster. Daniil Medvedev was the top seed, but he hasn't exactly been in peak "Octopus" mode lately. People were skeptical.
He had to work for it. His quarterfinal against the lucky loser Kamil Majchrzak actually went to three sets. Medvedev lost the first set in a tiebreak and had to claw his way back. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.
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The Rise of Brandon Nakashima
The bottom half of the men's draw was where things got really weird. Jiri Lehecka, the defending champion and 3rd seed, had to retire in the second round against Sebastian Korda. Then you had the 2nd seed, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, losing his very first match to Brandon Nakashima.
Nakashima ended up being the story of the men's tournament. He reached the final by taking out everyone in his path:
- Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (Round of 32)
- Quentin Halys (Round of 16)
- Raphael Collignon (Quarterfinals)
- Aleksandar Kovacevic (Semifinals)
In the final, Medvedev finally looked like his old self. He took the first set 6-2 and held his nerve in a tight second-set tiebreak to win 7-6(1). It was his 22nd ATP title, and more importantly, it proved that he’s still a threat when the courts are fast.
What the Draw Results Mean for the Australian Open
You can't look at the draw for Brisbane International in a vacuum. It’s the ultimate litmus test for the Australian Open.
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Sabalenka is now the undisputed favorite for Melbourne. Her confidence is through the roof. Meanwhile, the early exits of Rybakina and Anisimova suggest that some of the top seeds might be a bit "under-cooked" heading into the first Major of 2026.
On the men’s side, Medvedev’s win puts him back in the conversation, but the depth of talent shown by guys like Nakashima and Kovacevic shows that the gap between the elite and the rest of the pack is shrinking. Also, we have to mention the Aussies. Nick Kyrgios was a wildcard but ran into a red-hot Aleksandar Kovacevic in the opening round. It wasn't the homecoming the Brisbane crowd wanted, but that's the nature of a tough draw.
Key Takeaways from the Week
- Sabalenka is untouchable: Winning the title without losing a set is a massive statement.
- Nakashima is a top-20 threat: His run to the final was no fluke.
- The "Defending Champion" curse: Jiri Lehecka’s injury/retirement was a blow to the ATP field.
- Qualifier strength: Players like Raphael Collignon and Rinky Hijikata proved that qualifying for the main draw is often harder than the first round itself.
If you’re following the tour, the biggest lesson here is that momentum is everything. Sabalenka and Medvedev are leaving Brisbane with bags full of it.
To keep your finger on the pulse of the summer of tennis, start tracking the live Elo ratings and recent match fatigue scores for these players. These stats often predict Australian Open upsets better than the official rankings. You should also watch the replay of the Sabalenka-Muchova semifinal to see the tactical shifts Sabalenka has made to her serve—it’s the most significant technical change in the top 10 this year.