2026 WTA News & Gossip

[MargaretMcAleer]

Adelaide International,
Jessica Pegula and Marta Kostyuk have withdrawn due to scheduling changes

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In the Ladies Final at WTA250 ASB Classic in Auckland, Elina Svitolina top seed defeated the No 7th seed X.Wang 63 76(6)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

If Marta Kostyuk would stop using up nervous energy and take a 'chill pill' she might have a better chance in this match with Sabalenka
Sabalenka puts her opponents under pressure they feel like they have push their shots and find lines, which usually ends in forced errors
Marta screaming to her coach 'I dont know what to do" at this level to me is a 'cop out' though the WTA is at fault when they introduced on court coaching, tactics is a very important part of our game, and being able to change your game when it is not working is equally important.
Sabalenka the defending champion goes backto back in 2026 and wins the Brisbane title, her 22nd WTA title, and didnt lose a set all tournament she defeats Kostyuk 64 63, also extends her H2H over Kostyuk 5-0
Sabalenka has to be one of the favorites heading into the AO of 2026

BTW
Just a memo to Marta Kostyuk being a tennis player also requires 'sportsmanship; which you really Lacked in your R/U speech, you didnt have the manners to congratulate Sabalenka and her team, or even acknowledge them at all? then went on a rant about your homeland Ukraine? which we are all aware of as you remind us at every chance you get? leave the politics out of tennis, .At least Sabalenka had the manners to acknowledge you and your team in her speech and wish you well for the rest of the season, pity you could not do the same!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Belinda Bencic is 'playing off the charts' the best I have seen her play consistently at such a high level in the United Cup
Bencic with 3 MPs
Brillant Belinda and she defeats Iga Swiatek 36 60 63 I doubt if any player could live with Belinda in this match
Swiss go 1-0 in the tie
Mens singles match up next,
Wawrinka vs Hurkacz
Poland won the tie 2-1 over Swiss,
Belinda Bencic was the 2026 United Cup MVP award
9 wins and 1 loss!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

New WTA Top Ten, Monday 12th January,
1. Sabalenka 10,870 consolidated leads after defending Brisbane title
2. Swiatek 8,220
3. Gauff 6,413 (+1)
4. Anisimova 6,293 (-1)
5. Rybakina 5,850
6. Pegula 5,453
7. Paolini 4,267 (+1)
8. Andreeva 4,233 (+1)
9. Keys 3,943 (-2)
10.Bencic 3,512 (+1) after great run at the United Cup

Biggest Movers,
No 20 Kostyuk (+6)
No 30 Jovic ( +5)
No 43 X. Wang (+14)
No 49 Eala (+4)
No 55 Krejcikova (+8)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Hoegren, just letting you know that Clara retired after losing the 1st set in a TB to Tomljanovic which went for 1 hour 76(5) at the Adelaide International
Clara to me wasnt moving well, seeing that the AO starts on Sunday 18th a wise decision, hopefully she will be okay

 

[El Dude]

I can't believe Venus Williams is still plugging away. She played six matches in 2024-25 and not really a fullish season since 2019 when she played in 15 events and 34 matches, but has already played two this year. She turns 46 in June.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Adelaide International
Wednesday 14th January
The conclusion of Round of 16 matches

Kasatkina vs Cristian
Keys defending champion (2) vs Valentova, Madison picked up a abductor injury in Brisbane, I hope she will be okay, she has a lot of points to defend, apart from Adelaide, she is the defending champion at the AO in 2026
Joint vs Tomljanovic Battle of 2 Aussies, Joint is a young player to watch, she has a well rounded game
Shnaider vs Siniakova
Navarro (6) vs Putintseva
Birrell vs Vondrousova

Birrell received a WO from Vondrousova who sustained a hip injury from her last match
Keys d Valentova, bit rusty in the 1st set, but the 2nd set Keys found her range, timing, serve and game 64 61
Cristian d Kasatkina 64 60
Shnaider (9) d Sinikova 61 26 75
Navarro (6) d Putintseva 61 64
Joint wins via retirement 0-2 as Tomljanovic sustained a right shoulder injury

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Adelaide International,
Thursday 15th January
QFs
Starts at 11.30am local time,

J.Cristian vs K.Birrell
M.Keys (2) vs V.Mboko (8)
M.Andreeva (3) vs M.Joint
E.Navarro (6) vs D.Shnaider (9)

In a match that went for just over 3 hours Kim Birrell Aussie, d Cristian 57 61 75
D.Shnaider d Navarro 63 63
In a wll contested match between 19 yo Vicky Mboko and defending champion Maidson Keys, it went the distance, Vicky came out fearless in the 1st set, Madison responded well in the 2nd set, Vicky found her game again like in the 1st set, stayed composed and won 62, she is a well grounded young lady and into the SF in Adelaide
Mboko d Keys 64 46 62
Shnaider d Navarro 63 63
Andreeva d Joint 62 60

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just an reminder the draw for the AO will take place Thursday 15th January at 2.30pm local tine at the Fan Stage on Grand Slam Oval
Live stream of the draw will be hosted on ausopen.com, the Australian Open YouTube channel and the tournaments Facebook page.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Adelaide
SFs,
Friday 16th January,
Play starts at 11.00am local time,

V.Mboko (8) vs K.Birrrell

Not before 3pm,

M.Andreeva (3) vs D.Shnaider (9)

 

[El Dude]

One more thing about Venus Williams. After playing a couple matches in 2026 so far, that's her 33rd year in a row of playing WTA tournaments. Her first year, 1994, was the last year of Navratilova's singles career (aside from those few matches in 2004), Ivan Lendl's last season, Jimmy Connors was still playing a few tournaments a year, and it was Pete Sampras' best year at age 22-23, his second season at #1. It is crazy to think that's how long Venus has been around.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In the first SF at the Adelaide International 500,
Victoria Mboko too good for Kim Birrell defeating her in quick time 62 61, Victoria continues to impress after she defeating defending champion Madison Keys in the QF and is the first player through to the final

In the 2nd SF,
Andreeva too good for her doubles partner Shnaider 63 62 and will play Victoria Mboko in the final at the Adelaide International

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Adelaide International
Ladies Singles Final,
Saturday 17th January
Starts at 1.00pm local time,

Victoria Mboko (8) vs Mirra Andreeva (3) First meeting.
Andreeva and Mboko won 3 of last years WTA1000 events, Andreeva winning Dubai and IW, Mboko winning Montreal
They have both known each other since their junior days.
Andreeva seem to lose her way, level wise towards the middle and end of last year, though turning 18 she now knows what is it like to play full time on the tour, though she has been impressive in Adelaide.Mboko just 19 yo has also been impressive defeating the defending champion Madison Keys in the QFs. I expect this match to go the distance.

Good luck ladies!

The 2nd seeds Siniakova/Zhang won the Ladies Doubles title defeating Kichenok/Krawczy 61 64.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA250 Hobart International
Ladies Singles Final
Saturday 17th January
Starts at 1.00pm local time

I.Jovic (3) vs E.Cocciaretto First meeting
I have been impressed with the American , 17 yo rising player Jovic, she has a aggressive all court game, strong mentality and has already won a WTA500 event in Guadalajara in September 2025.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In just over 1 hour Andreeva put on a tennis clinic defeating Vicky Mboko in the final of the WTA500 Adelaide International 63 61
Vicky got off to a great start leading 3-0 then Mirra found her game and controlled the baseline with 6 consecutive games
Vicky had the doctor and trainer out to check her vitals early in the 2nd set, but continued she was still wearing her knee brace like she has all tournament.
I dont like top players playing a tournament so close to a major but Martinez is one of those 'old school coaches' wasnt happy with Mirra's performance in Brisbane.
Well done Andreeva that was the best match you have played since the latter part of the 2025 season and your first title since IW

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

At the WTA250 Hobart International final, a bit of a upset as the Italian Cocciaretto defeated the No 3 seed Jovic 64 64
Well done Elisabetta

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Congratulations are in order, Garbine Muguruza and her husband Arthur Borges welcomed a baby boy named Marcos into the world!

 

[El Dude]

Trivia Question: Who is the greatest WTA player to be double-bageled? It is pretty well known, but a fun little stat.

Bonus: I found at least four other top 20ish all-time players who have been double-bageled. Any guesses who they are?

 

[britbox]

Trivia Question: Who is the greatest WTA player to be double-bageled? It is pretty well known, but a fun little stat.

Bonus: I found at least four other top 20ish all-time players who have been double-bageled. Any guesses who they are?

Graf did Zvereva, but I'm sure there are better ones!