Overview
- Aryna Sabalenka said she wants a second 'Battle of the Sexes' versus Nick Kyrgios and proposed using a full court with two serves after losing 6-3, 6-3 on a reduced court with one-serve rules in Dubai.
- World No. 1 Sabalenka begins her 2026 campaign by defending the Brisbane International starting January 4 as she tunes up for the Australian Open, where she owns two titles from 2023 and 2024.
- Brisbane features a stacked women’s field with Mirra Andreeva, Elena Rybakina, Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, and Amanda Anisimova; Sabalenka leads Andreeva 4-2, though the teenager won their 2025 Indian Wells final.
- On the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner enter 2026 as clear favourites after splitting last year’s majors, with both slated for a January 10 exhibition in Incheon before heading to Australia.
- Alcaraz is set for his first major without long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero following their split, while Sabalenka defended exhibitions as a way to keep tennis “fresh” despite criticism of the Dubai format.