If the early returns on Elena Rybakina’s 2026 season are any indication, the rest of the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz should be on high alert.
Brisbane: Scores | Draws | Order of play
Rybakina ended 2025 on a tear, sneaking into the WTA Finals as the last qualifier before going on to win the year-end championships. She appears to have carried that momentum into the new year, following a flawless second-round win over Zhang Shuai with an equally impressive straight-sets victory over No. 15 seed Paula Badosa.
The 2024 Brisbane champion needed just 1 hour and 25 minutes to defeat the Spaniard 6-3, 6-2 at Pat Rafter Arena on Thursday, booking her spot in the quarterfinals.
More to come…