Medvedev and Musetti Open 2026 with High Stakes in Brisbane and Hong Kong

In the humid haze of Brisbane and the vibrant hum of Hong Kong, the 2026 ATP calendar bursts open with a pair of 250-level events that carry the weight of fresh starts. Daniil Medvedev plants himself as top seed at the Brisbane International presented by ANZ, his baseline game primed for the medium-paced hard courts that once carried him to a 2019 final. Across the globe, Lorenzo Musetti tops the draw at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open, his elegant strokes set to navigate a surface with just enough bite to reward his spin variations. These tournaments blend veteran resolve with youthful charge, every rally a bid to seize early momentum in a year ripe for reinvention.

Medvedev rebuilds amid Brisbane’s familiar grind

Daniil Medvedev arrives off a 2025 laced with setbacks, yet his October triumph in Almaty—snapping a 15-month title drought—hints at renewed focus under coaches Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke. Brisbane’s outdoor slabs suit his penetrating returns, where he can target second serves with deep, flat balls to force errors from the outset. The former world No. 1 must layer in tactical patience, using inside-in forehands to flip points against aggressive openers, all while shaking off last year’s inconsistencies to build a bridge toward Melbourne.

Jiri Lehecka, the defending champion, returns with quiet confidence after a 2025 that propelled him to No. 16 and 41 wins, his Australian success rooted in Adelaide and here last year. His heavy topspin forehands stretch rallies crosscourt, setting up one–two combinations that exploit tired legs in the heat. Facing heightened scrutiny, Lehecka will lean on that serve to dictate tempo, aiming to defend without the luxury of surprise.

Grigor Dimitrov eases into the fray at 34, his body tested by a pectoral tear from Wimbledon that forced a fourth-round retirement two sets up against Jannik Sinner. The two-time winner here in 2017 and 2024 favors fluid backhand slices down-the-line to probe defenses, but recovery demands measured net forays rather than all-out charges. Brisbane’s crowd energy could fuel his elastic movement, turning potential rust into rhythmic flow if he holds serve under pressure.

Next Gen sparks challenge Brisbane’s old guard

Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien, the past two victors of the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, step into their first Australian ATP 250 with breakout shine—Fonseca from Buenos Aires and Basel titles, Tien from Metz and Jeddah. Fonseca’s net rushes and inside-out forehands inject pace into drawn-out exchanges, potentially rattling Medvedev’s backhand in upsets. Tien counters with consistent topspin loops, his flat serves probing weaknesses on a surface that amplifies young legs.

In doubles, Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool spearhead after seven titles last season, their volley poaches and crosscourt lobs thriving in Brisbane’s conditions. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina teams with Lehecka, merging aggressive groundstrokes with precise overheads to add depth to the week’s narratives. These pairings test endurance across formats, where quick transitions from singles to doubles sharpen overall edge.

Musetti chases titles in Hong Kong’s neon pulse

Andrey Rublev hunts resurgence in Hong Kong after slipping outside the top 10 for the first time since 2022, his 2024 win here a stark contrast to last year’s second-round stumble as defending champion. The former No. 5 unleashes inside-in forehands with raw velocity, but reining in frustration means varying depths to disrupt Musetti’s geometry. Rublev’s path loops through mindset shifts, turning explosive power into sustained control on courts that reward bold lines.

Alexandre Muller carries improbable momentum, having dropped the first set in every match to claim last season’s title before a Rio ATP 500 final that cracked the top 40. His underspin slices and lobs build defenses into counters, ideal for Hong Kong’s grippy hard courts where rally tempos build gradually. Muller thrives in comebacks, his resilience a tactical foil to seeded firepower if he extends points just long enough.

At 19, Rei Sakamoto enters via the Next Gen Accelerator, his 2024 Australian Open boys’ title and ITF Junior No. 1 ranking fueling quick footwork for crosscourt exchanges. The Japanese prospect keeps balls deep with flat strikes, unburdened by expectations as he navigates a draw stacked with experience. His debut injects fresh angles, potentially extending matches into deciders that wear on veterans.

Doubles heats up with Karen Khachanov and Rublev combining big serves for net dominance, while Musetti links with Lorenzo Sonego to fuse backhand artistry with steady returns. Sander Arends and Romain Arneodo top seed the field, their poach-heavy game clashing against singles stars in cross-format battles. As serves crack and feet scramble, these events forge early identities—Medvedev’s cool calculations and Musetti’s flair poised to propel runs that echo through the Australian swing.