Aballou: A site made by fans, for fans

Medvedev Duplicates Federer’s Brisbane Feat, Securing a 22nd Title on Hard Courts

11 January 2026

Medvedev Duplicates Federer’s Brisbane Feat, Securing a 22nd Title on Hard Courts
Medvedev celebrates the Brisbane crown after defeating Nakashima.

Medvedev’s Brisbane Triumph: A Rare Feat Revisited

Daniil Medvedev began the new season with a powerful statement, capturing the Brisbane International title (250 points) on Sunday by defeating American Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 7-6.

The 29-year-old sealed his 22nd career trophy, and notably, all 22 titles have come at 22 different events.

This win extends the upward trajectory that began last October when he ended a two-and-a-half-year trophy drought at Almaty, aided by his new coaching team, Thomas Johansson and Rohan Gotzke. With this title, Medvedev became the first No. 1 to lift Brisbane since Roger Federer in 2015.

Nakashima, chasing a second career title, left Brisbane disappointed but with a strong final run, finishing 31 in the live rankings. He had arrived at the final without dropping a set, but could not match Medvedev who widened their head-to-head lead to 3-0.

Medvedev also became the third active player to win 20 or more titles on hard courts, joining Novak Djokovic (72) and Yannick Sinner (21).

Punchline 1: Bang—another trophy down. Medvedev, the human sniper of hard courts, never misses a target.

Punchline 2: If accuracy paid rent, Medvedev would own the Brisbane skyline. The hard courts have a new landlord.

Author

Avatar

Michael Whooosh

I am Michael Whooosh, an English sports journalist born in 1986. Passionate about surfing, poetry, and beekeeping, I share my human and sensitive view of sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Brisbane International 2026 final?

Daniil Medvedev defeated Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 7-6 to win the title.

How many career titles does Medvedev have after this win?

22 career titles, all won at different events.

What made this Brisbane win historically notable for Medvedev?

He became the first No. 1 to lift Brisbane since Roger Federer in 2015.

Who leads active players in hard-court titles ahead of Medvedev?

Novak Djokovic (72) and Yannick Sinner (21).