Belarusian world number one Aryna Sabalenka began her 2026 season with a commanding victory over Spain’s Cristina Bucsa at the Brisbane International. Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, defeated Bucsa 6-0 6-1 in just 47 minutes to advance to the third round of the tournament.
The win came shortly after Sabalenka’s highly publicised exhibition match against Australian Nick Kyrgios in Dubai, part of a modern ‘Battle of the Sexes’ event. Sabalenka lost 6-3 6-3 to Kyrgios, but she stated that the match helped her maintain fitness ahead of the competitive season.
“The intensity when playing against a male player is completely different,” Sabalenka said, reflecting on her match against Kyrgios. “He moves you around the court with drop shots and different styles, which was a great way to work on fitness.”
The Dubai exhibition generated widespread attention and debate, with Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek recently commenting that the event did not carry the same social significance as the original 1973 ‘Battle of the Sexes’ between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Despite this, Sabalenka emphasised that the match helped shine a global spotlight on tennis.
In Brisbane, Sabalenka received a first-round bye and will face Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the third round as she continues preparation for the Australian Open, which begins on 18 January.
British Players Open Season in Auckland
Meanwhile, British players have also begun their 2026 campaigns in Auckland at the ASB Classic. Katie Boulter, ranked fourth in Britain, defeated Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3 6-3 in her first match since October. Boulter is working under new coach Michael Joyce and has been awarded a main draw wildcard for the WTA 250 event. She will face top seed Elina Svitolina in the next round.
Boulter missed direct entry into the Australian Open after falling out of the world’s top 100. She is currently the third alternate and may need to qualify at Melbourne Park if withdrawals do not occur.
Sonay Kartal also won her opening match in Auckland, defeating Indonesia’s Janice Tjen 6-1 6-7 6-3. The British world number 68, who reached the last 16 at Wimbledon in 2025, will meet Germany’s Ella Seidel in the second round.
These early-season victories provide momentum for Sabalenka and Britain’s leading players as they prepare for one of the year’s most significant events in the tennis calendar.
