Rybakina’s Brisbane Surge Continues Unabated

Elena Rybakina arrived in Brisbane carrying the fire from her 2025 WTA Finals triumph, and her third-round clash with No. 15 Paula Badosa only fanned the flames. The 6-3, 6-2 victory in 1 hour and 25 minutes at Pat Rafter Arena sealed her quarterfinal spot, blending raw power with a cool-headed reset that silenced the Spaniard’s early charge. Now with 13 straight wins, the 2024 champion here remains flawless at 7-0, her flat groundstrokes slicing through the humid air like a promise of more dominance to come.

Badosa seized the opening, claiming the first seven points and breaking for 2-0 as Rybakina’s serve betrayed her with double faults and weak second deliveries. The Kazakh steadied by breaking back immediately, then held firm to level at 2-all, her backhand redirecting Badosa’s pace with depth that forced errors. From there, she claimed four straight games, firing a forehand winner on set point to shift the match’s pulse.

Resetting amid the pressure

Rybakina’s early wobble tested her resolve, but she absorbed it by narrowing her focus to single points, staying aggressive on returns even as her serve hovered below its peak. Badosa’s quick footwork and flat forehands pressed her deep, yet Rybakina countered with crosscourt topspin to open the court, pulling the Spaniard off balance for inside-in approaches. The crowd at Pat Rafter felt the turn, their cheers rising as she built a 3-0 lead in the second set with a down-the-line backhand on break point.

That surge extended to seven consecutive games, Badosa managing only a brief hold at 3-1 before fading under the weight of 24 winners to 21 unforced errors. In the second set alone, Rybakina tallied 13 winners against 7 errors, her conviction on both wings turning defense into decisive strikes. This wasn’t just recovery; it was a tactical recalibration, using the Brisbane hard courts’ true bounce to amplify her penetrating shots while minimizing risks.

Elena Rybakina is picking up off right where she left off 🙂‍↕️ #BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/iE1VxujNgA

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) January 8, 2026

Streaks that fuel her fire

Thirteen straight victories tie Rybakina’s career best from early 2023, her last defeat a quarterfinal loss to Aryna Sabalenka in Wuhan last October. This marks her fourth win in a row over Badosa since 2023, giving her the head-to-head edge, while her unbeaten Brisbane run now stands at 7-0. On a day her serve struggled, ball-striking became the anchor—forehands skidding low crosscourt, backhands threading down the line in clutch 1–2 exchanges that dictated rallies.

“I was trying to focus one [game] at a time,” Rybakina reflected. “The serve was not helping so much, so I had to manage the points and stay aggressive on the return. I still have a lot of things to work on for the next match, but hopefully it will be better.” Her composure under streak pressure transforms potential cracks into sharpened focus, especially on these medium-paced hard courts that reward her flat-hitting style.

For the latest updates, see the Brisbane: Scores | Draws | Order of play.

Quarterfinal test looms large

Next faces No. 11 Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals, their record even at 1-1 after Rybakina’s three-set win at 2023 Indian Wells. Muchova’s mix of slice backhands and net rushes will demand adjustments, particularly if Rybakina’s serve doesn’t fully click, forcing her to vary spin and patterns beyond her baseline comfort zone. With the Australian Open approaching, this clash carries stakes— a deep run here bolsters her post-Finals momentum and rankings push toward the top.

The Pat Rafter atmosphere buzzes with pre-major energy, fans drawn to Rybakina’s quiet intensity that masks explosive potential. Her ability to flip deficits, as seen against Badosa, hints at a 2026 defined by resilience, where early-season scrutiny only hones her edge. If she navigates Muchova’s variety, the WTA Tour braces for a player who’s not just extending streaks but redefining them on her terms.