Sasnovich’s Brisbane run ends in third round

Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Photo courtesy of the Belarusian Ministry of Sport and Tourism

MINSK, 8 January (BelTA) – Belarusian tennis player Aliaksandra Sasnovich (world No. 113) has concluded her run at the 2026 Brisbane International in Australia, with a total prize pool of $1.2 million, BelTA has learned.

In the third-round match on 8 January, the Belarusian tennis player lost in straight sets to Russian Liudmila Samsonova (No.17) with a score of 4-6, 4-6. In the round of 64, Sasnovich defeated Russian Anna Blinkova (No.61) 7-5, 6-1, and in the second round, she overcame Denmark’s Clara Tauson (No.14) 6-3, 6-3. Sasnovich had earned her place in the main draw through the qualifying rounds, where she defeated Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova (world No.128) 6-2, 6-2, and Uzbekistan’s Maria Timofeeva (No.138) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Also on 8 January, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Romania’s Sorana Cirstea (world No.41) 6-3, 6-3. Sabalenka’s next opponent will be U.S. tennis player Madison Keys (No.7), who prevailed in a three-set battle against Russian Diana Shnaider (No.21) 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4). In the round of 32, Sabalenka delivered a commanding victory over Spain’s Cristina Bucsa (world No.50) 6-0, 6-1. In 2025, she won the Brisbane International final against Russian tennis player Polina Kudermetova.