Medvedev Turns the Tables in Brisbane; Kostyuk Dethrones Andreeva to Reach the Semis
9 January 2026
Medvedev Turns the Tables on Majchrzak in Brisbane
Daniel Medvedev steadied after a slow start on Friday to keep his Brisbane title bid alive in the 250-point event. The top seed faced early pressure from Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak, who pushed the opener into a tense tiebreak before prevailing 7-6. Medvedev responded with a sharper game, taking the next two sets 6-3, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals. He now eyes a 22nd career title on hard courts this week after a strong finish to 2025.
Kostyuk Upsets Andreeva to Reach Brisbane Semi
In the women's draw, Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, seeded 16, opened 2026 with a statement, defeating sixth seed Mirra Andreeva 7-6, 6-3 in 1 hour 47 minutes to book a place in the semi-finals. Kostyuk arrived confident after solid pre-season training and spoke of a clear goal to end the year in the world’s top 10. This week marks the first time since 2024 that she has beaten more than one top-10 opponent in a single event, showcasing her improved consistency.
Her next test is a familiar foe, fourth seed Jessica Pegula, who leads their head-to-head 4-1. Kostyuk’s sole win in the series came in San Diego 2024. Pegula will be the favorite, but Kostyuk’s momentum this week suggests a competitive encounter.
Punchline time: If tennis were a stand-up show, Medvedev would have a set of punchlines sharper than his backhand, and Kostyuk would serve up a top-10-sized ego boost for the crowd. Sniper joke #1: “He who serves first, serves best—except when your opponent is a one-shot magician.” Sniper joke #2: “Kostyuk’s rising form is so bright, even the ball is filing for daylight saving.”
