As the 2025 WTA season continues to unfold, excitement is already building for the 2026 tennis calendar. Three of the tour’s prominent stars have confirmed their first stops for next year. Madison Keys will kick off her season in Adelaide, while Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka are set to launch their campaigns in Brisbane.
Madison Keys’ Adelaide Ambitions
Madison Keys, the two-time defending champion, is poised to headline the Adelaide International from January 12-17, 2026. Her impressive victory in the 2025 edition of the tournament, where she overcame Jessica Pegula in the final, marked the beginning of a remarkable run that led to her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. This victory also contributed to a career-best 16-match winning streak that extended through to Indian Wells. Keys has previously claimed the Adelaide trophy in 2022 and has expressed that the event is an ideal platform for her preparation as she aims to successfully defend her title in Melbourne.
In contrast, Rybakina and Sabalenka will commence their Australian journeys a week earlier at the Brisbane International, scheduled for January 4-11, 2026. Since its return to the calendar in 2024 after a three-year hiatus, both players have made significant impacts. Rybakina showcased her dominance in the 2024 Brisbane final against Sabalenka, only for Sabalenka to flip the script weeks later by winning the Australian Open final. The competition heated up in 2025 when Sabalenka further elevated her performance by defeating Polina Kudermetova to clinch the title in Queensland.
Rybakina returns to the Queensland Tennis Centre with an impressive unbeaten record at the Brisbane event. Following her participation at the United Cup for Kazakhstan to kick off 2025, she also maintained a perfect 2-0 record at Pat Rafter Arena during April’s Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers. Both players have expressed eagerness to return to Brisbane, highlighting the supportive atmosphere and favorable playing conditions as key factors in their preparations for the upcoming season.
With the stage set for an exhilarating start to the 2026 WTA season, fans can look forward to seeing how these top athletes perform as they aim for success in their respective tournaments.