Last year’s Australian Open finalists Madison Keys and Aryna Sabalenka have made strong opening statements in 2026, each beginning their new campaigns with convincing wins at the Brisbane International.
Sabalenka’s Dominant Display
World No.1 Sabalenka opened her campaign in emphatic fashion, dismantling Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in just 47 minutes on Tuesday. The defending Australian Open champion secured a 6-4, 6-3 victory against McCarthy Kessler in the second round at Pat Rafter Arena.
Sabalenka delivered a near-flawless performance at the Queensland Tennis Centre, hitting 23 winners while committing only seven unforced errors in a dominant opening-round display. Her power and precision proved far too much for Bucsa, who struggled from the very first point.
It was a familiar matchup for Sabalenka, who had previously defeated Bucsa in the fourth round of last year’s US Open on her way to claiming the title. That pattern quickly re-emerged in Brisbane, with Sabalenka racing through the first set and maintaining control throughout the second.
Bucsa, ranked 50th in the world, briefly lifted the crowd by avoiding a double bagel, earning a warm ovation. However, Sabalenka closed the match a game later, sealing the victory with her fourth ace and a final score of 6-0, 6-1.
“Wasn’t focusing on warning anyone for the season; I was just too focused on things that I have been working on during the preseason. I was just trying to show my level. I did it well, and if someone got scared because of that, I’ll be happy to see players giving up, but that’s not going to happen, unfortunately,” Sabalenka said.
“I was surprised with my serve-and-volley points. I was practising a lot, but I wasn’t sure if it was going to go my way in the match, but I’m happy I was able to do that. I mean, I worked really hard, so I wasn’t really surprised with the level,” she added.
Keys Finds Her Rhythm
On the other hand, fifth seed Keys recorded her first win on Australian soil since capturing her maiden major title at Melbourne Park last January, defeating fellow American McCarthy Kessler 6-4, 6-3.
Keys admitted she needed some time to settle, acknowledging early nerves and the need to “knock off a bit of the rust” before finding her rhythm. Once she did, her shot-making began to click.
Now a Grand Slam champion, Keys is eager to challenge herself further in 2026, aiming to push beyond her comfort zone as the season unfolds.
“I have really been trying to focus on trying to get to the net a little bit more. My biggest goal, not only for here but really just for the entire year, is to do the things that kind of make me uncomfortable on the court. Sometimes, especially if I get nervous or it’s tight moments, I kind of fall back on being more comfortable, which sometimes actually gets me in trouble. So continuing to do the things I have been working on in practice, in matches, in the big moments, is probably my biggest goal of the year,” Keys said after her win.