Revenge for Sabalenka as contenders queue in Brisbane

Joanna Guelas | January 9, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka says she’s no longer thinking about last year’s heartbreaking Australian Open loss to Madison Keys after defeating the US star in a quarter-final at the Brisbane International.

In their first rematch on Australian shores since losing to Keys for the Melbourne title last year, the world No.1 found redemption with a 6-3 6-3 triumph at Pat Rafter Arena on Friday.

Sabalenka will meet Karolina Muchova in the semi-finals to continue her Brisbane title defence, after the Czech had earlier knocked out third seed Elena Rybakina.

The four-time grand slam winner dominated Keys with her first serve and made just three unforced errors to take the opening set.

A determined Keys recovered from match point down on her serve, but Sabalenka wouldn’t be denied and won in an hour and 29 minutes.

Sabalenka has now claimed two straight-sets victories over the world No.7 since losing last year’s Australian Open final in three sets.

The 27-year-old steamrolled her American rival with a 6-0 6-1 semi-final win at Indian Wells last year.

“I know that I lost in Australia against her and that’s the big motivation, of course, to go out and to get the win,” Sabalenka said.

“But I never stay in the past and never remember things from the previous meeting.

“I know that I have to be focused from the beginning until the end with her because she’s an incredible fighter, and she can come back any time.

“When I won the match, of course, I was super happy, but I didn’t really have the throwback to the Australian Open last year, to be honest.”

Sabalenka had the same line of thinking when asked about her three-match losing streak against semi-final opponent Muchova.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m the one who’s leading head-to-head against the player or I’m the one who’s losing, I don’t care,” Sabalenka said.

Czechia’s Muchova was the first woman to reach the final four after pulling off a 6-2 2-6 6-4 quarter-final win over Kazakhstan’s world No.5.

Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, lost her serve twice in a nightmare start against Muchova, making 16 unforced errors and three double faults in the opening set.

Elsewhere, American Jessica Pegula beat Liudmila Samsonova 6-3 7-6 (7-3) and will play in-form Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, ranked No.26 in the world.

Kostyuk backed up Thursday’s straight-sets win over world No.3 Amanda Anisimova by upsetting 18-year-old world No.9 Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (9-7) 6-3.

In the first of the men’s quarter-finals, Aleksandar Kovacevic, who upset Nick Kyrgios and Cameron Norrie earlier in the week, claimed a 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-3 win over France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

The American will face compatriot Brandon Nakashima, who beat Belgium’s Raphael Collignon 6-3 6-3.

Alex Michelsen made it three American men into the final four, beating compatriot Sebastian Korda 6-3 7-6 (9-7).

He’ll play top seed Daniil Medvedev, who overcame impressive Polish lucky loser Kamil Majchrzak 6-7 (7-4) 6-3 6-2 in the late Friday night match on Pat Rafter Arena.