2026 WTA News & Gossip

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Brisbane
Round of 16
Thursday January 8th'
Starts at 11.00am local time,

Sabalenka (1) vs Cirstea
Rybakina (3) vs Badosa (15)
Anisomova (2) vs Kostyuk (16)
Keys (5) vs Shnaider (12)
Pegula (4) vs Yastremska
Andreeva (6) vs Noskova (9)
Alexandrova (7) vs Muchova (11)
Samsonova (10) vs Sasnovich
Results,
Sabalenka d Cirstea 63 63, Cirstea never went away in the match, returned Aryna's 2nd serve well.
Rybakina d Badosa, Lovely clean hitting from Rybakina in this match,her serve also was a factor, Badosa DF and gave the match in the 2nd set to Rybakina, Rybakina too good winning 63 62
Muchova d Alexandrova 64 75
Samsonova d Sasnovich 64 64
In a real 3 set battle which went for over 3 hours, Keys d Shnaider 67(5) 76(5) 76(4) both players had physio out, Keys went off court for treatment to her left thigh, came back heavily bandaged, Shnaider had her left bicep bandaged, though it didnt seem to affect her serve.
Kostyuk d Anisimova 64 63
Andreeva d Noskova 57 64 75
Pegula d Yastremska 57 62 63

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Qinwen Zheng has withdrawn from the AO, admitting she cannot yet sustain the 'extreme competitive condition needed to compete at a Grand Slam tournament.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Brisbane,
QFs,
Friday 9th January
Starts at 11pm local time,

Rybakina (3) vs Muchova (11)

Not before 12.30pm
Sabalenka (1) vs Keys (5) A rematch of the 2025 AO final

Not before 3pm,
Pegula (4) vs Samsonova (10)

Not before 6.30pm
Andreeva (6) vs Kostyuk (16)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think by now everyone knows I just love watching Muchova play, she has the variety in her game and tennis IQ on a court, she can certainly disrupt any big hitter on the tour and that is what she did today in her match against Rybakina
It was a match that went for just over 2 hours, Muchova won the 1st set 62 with just 4 UFE a clean set of tennis
To her credit Rybakina turn around the match cut down on her UFE and won the 2nd set 62
It was a fairly even 3rd set, Muchova with her variety took her chances and won the 3rd set 64
Muchova d Rybakina 62 26 64 and will play the winner of Sabalenka or Keys in the SF in Brisbane

 

[kskate2]

She's a rare treat in the WTA. No one and I mean no one plays like her. Babs tries, but she's so streaky. Tattoo is another w/ variety but not consistent like Chrissy's daughter.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sabalenka wins the 1st set 63 over Keys, really putting pressure on Keys service games and anticipating well. I feel Keys needs to add more variety in her serve, to keep Sabalenka guessing, using the body serve?

 

[kskate2]

I think she's gassed MM. She was on court for 3 hrs yesterday and today she's all strapped up.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think she's gassed MM. She was on court for 3 hrs yesterday and today she's all strapped up.

Shame for Maddie, she has had that recurring abductor problem, though she put up a fight and didnt go away in the match,
Sabalenka wins 63 63 and will play Muchova in the SF.

 

[kskate2]

Saba will be happy Elena is out. She's been taken to the shed the last 2 meetings. Now Chrissy's daughter and the teen queen could still cause problems, but we'll have to see.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Saba will be happy Elena is out. She's been taken to the shed the last 2 meetings. Now Chrissy's daughter and the teen queen could still cause problems, but we'll have to see.

At least the teen queen has been putting up more of a fight than she showed in her matches later in the 2025 season in Brisbane
Saba's serve really gives her soo many free points in matches, her opponents really have to be 'on' their return game

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Jess Pegula playing on debut at the Brisbane International, another player who has a heavily strapped left thigh defeated Samsona in straight sets, though she was behind in both sets, but fought her way back to win 63 76(3).Pegula will play either Andreeva or Kostyuk in the 2nd semi final, their QF match is scheduled later in Brisbane today

In the last QF match,
Kostyuk d Andreeva 76(3) 63

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Brisbane,
SFs,
Saturday 10th January
Starts at 11am local time,

Sabalenka (1) vs Muchova (11) Muchova leads their H2H 3-1, though they havent played since China Open in 2024, Muchova won in 3 sets.

Not before 3pm local time

Pegula (4) vs Kostyuk (16) Pegula leads their H2H 4-1

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Veronika Kudermetova has withdrawn from the AO in 2026, recovering well, though she feels she is not quite up to the standard of competing in a Grand Slam

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

A very impressive 1st set by Sabalenka 63 over Muchova,
Muchova serving well and her return game has been deep, Muchova did have a slight opening late in the 1st set with love 30, though Sabalenka shut the door with her serve.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

For the life of me Sabalenka stop ,watch your bloody margins there is no need to go for the lines as you are trying to serve out the match
I will come down and hit you on the head with my Head racquet!
On her 4th match point which seemed like her 100 MP Sabalenka defeats Muchova 63 64 and hasnt lost a set en route to the final.
Apart from her head casey attempts to serve the match out, I really enjoyed watching the match, there were some great points and rallies from both players.
If I had one wish this year I would love to see Muchova win a GS title, hopefully she can remain healthy for the AO and I get to see her play live.
Sabalenka the defending champion, will either player Kostyuk or Pegula in the final, their match will be played later this afternoon in Brisbane

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I watched the 1st set between Kostyuk v Pegula, after Kostyuk handed Pegula a bagel that was enough for me, I know Jess was carrying an injury as she could hardly practice, maybe it would have been better to withdraw?
Kostyuk d Pegula 60 63 and will play Sabalenka in the final tomorrow in Brisbane

 

[kskate2]

USA dumps serve twice when serving for both sets in the mixed. Go on to lose the United Cup SF and sends Poland to the final. Fritz was a complete and utter liability all week. I don't know why he came. This notion of I will play through this injury is lunacy. It's not getting any better w/o the proper rest. If you can't handle a 3 set match against non top 10, how does he expect to perform next week against the rest of the field in BO5?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

USA dumps serve twice when serving for both sets in the mixed. Go on to lose the United Cup SF and sends Poland to the final. Fritz was a complete and utter liability all week. I don't know why he came. This notion of I will play through this injury is lunacy. It's not getting any better w/o the proper rest. If you can't handle a 3 set match against non top 10, how does he expect to perform next week against the rest of the field in BO5?

Agree, though knee tendenitis can take awhile to heal, he did say if the pain in his knee becomes too painful he will stop and take time off the tour.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Brisbane
Ladies Final,
Sunday 11th January,
Not before 4pm local time,

A. Sabalenka (1) vs M.Kostyuk (16) Sabalenka leads their H2H 4-0

Sabalenka the defending champion has been in good form, she hasnt lost a set en route to the final. Sabalenka is the first player to reach 3 consecutive Women's finals at Brisbane, since the events inauguration in 2009.
Kostyuk has had 3 consecutive Top Ten wins so far in the tournament Anisimova ( R16) Andreeva QF and Pegula in the SF.

Good luck to both ladies.

BTW,
Hsieh and Ostapenko, 2 time slam finalists in 2025, won their 1st title as a pair, beating Perez/Busca 62 61 to win the doubles title in Brisbane

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

ASB Classic Auckland, WTA250
Ladies Singles Final,
Sunday 11th January,
5pm local time

E.Svitolina (1) vs X.Wang (7) Svitolina leads their H2H 1-0