2026 Schedule Update | Amanda Anisimova latest big name to headline Brisbane International as rivalry with Sabalenka set to continue

Amanda Anisimova is the latest big player to confirm her involvement in the 2026 Brisbane International set to be played from January 5-11. She becomes the fourth top-10 tennis player to confirm her participation in the tournament.

The American enjoyed a fabulous campaign in 2025. She has firmly cemented herself as one of the best players on the WTA Tour thanks to a series of deep runs and titles in big events. This began with the WTA 1000 title she won in the Qatar Open. She closed in on the top 10 in the world, and achieved this after a fantastic run at Wimbledon. She defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-final before being demolished by a rampant Iga Swiatek, who bageled her in a one-sided final.

Many fans and pundits questioned how Anisimova would react to this horrific loss. Turns out very well. She extracted revenge on the Pole in the quarter-finals of the US Open enroute to a second consecutive final. This time, she was bettered by Sabalenka who bettered her in a close final. She followed this u[ with a very impressive run in the China Open. She found a way past the competition, including highly respected players like Jasmine Paolini and Coco Gauff ahead of defeating Linda Noskova in the final to collect yet another WTA 1000 title. Her campaign finished with a debut in the WTA Finals. She snuck out of her group, but once again suffered a painful defeat to Sabalenka. The 24-year-old has committed to a brace of exhibitions over the next couple of the days as she looks to get herself back in the prime condition to compete with the best players in the world. These both come in the USA, first A Racquet at The Rock in New Jersey before making the trip down to Florida to compete in the Miami Invitational. Both matches will be against Jessica Pegula.

Anisimova is the latest noticeable name to commit to the event ahead. "I love playing in Australia and I'm really looking forward to starting my 2026 season in Brisbane. It's the perfect place to build positive momentum before the Australian Open," Anisimova stated on the tournament's website.

The WTA event is becoming one of the most highly anticipated events. Anisimova is set to reignite her box office rivalry with Sabalenka Down Under. The pair will be set on a collision course to meet in the final, hopefully proving to be another exciting chapter to add to the blossoming rivalry between them. Sabalenka is the defending champion after getting the better of Polina Kudermetova in a comeback win.

This may not be the case, with the WTA Finals champion and inform Elena Rybakina also set to make a return to the court in Brisbane. She comes in as the 2024 champion after she defeated Sabalenka in the final. The form she has recently produced is frightening, looking unstoppable. If the Kazakh can replicate what she showcased in Riyadh, she will be the one to beat at the start of the season.

Attention will also be turned to the reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys. The world number seven came out of the blocks in blistering fashion last year. She took the title in the Adelaide International before surprising the tennis world by clinching the Australian Open title, her maiden Grand Slam triumph. She is also a previous finalist in this event, losing out at the final hurdle in 2020 to Karolina Pliskova in three sets.

The event will commence from January 5-11. The players will relish to compete at the highest level ahead of the Australian Open which will be played between January 18 - February 2.