Brisbane, Jan 6 (NationPress) The finalists of last year's Australian Open, Madison Keys and Aryna Sabalenka, have made impactful starts to their 2026 campaigns, both achieving decisive victories at the Brisbane International.

World No. 1 Sabalenka showcased her prowess by overwhelming Cristina Bucsa from Spain in just 47 minutes on Tuesday. Meanwhile, defending champion Keys secured a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over McCarthy Kessler in the second round at Pat Rafter Arena.

The defending champion in Brisbane demonstrated an almost perfect performance at the Queensland Tennis Centre, hitting 23 winners and committing only seven unforced errors in her dominant display. Sabalenka's combination of power and accuracy proved to be too much for Bucsa, who struggled to find her footing from the very first point.

This was a familiar contest for the Belarusian, who had previously beaten Bucsa during the fourth round of the last year's US Open en route to her title. The same trend was evident in Brisbane, with Sabalenka swiftly securing the first set and maintaining her dominance in the second.

Bucsa, currently ranked 50th in the world, briefly energized the crowd by avoiding a double bagel, earning a warm applause. However, Sabalenka concluded the match shortly after, achieving a 6-0, 6-1 victory with her fourth ace.

“I wasn't focusing on making a statement for the season; I was entirely dedicated to the aspects I worked on during the preseason. I aimed to exhibit my level. If others felt intimidated by that, I welcome it, but I don’t expect it to happen,” Sabalenka stated to WTA.

“I was pleasantly surprised by my serve-and-volley play. I practiced it, but I wasn't sure how it would translate in the match. I’m thrilled that I could implement it during play. Given my hard work, I wasn't surprised by my performance level,” she continued.

Similarly, fifth seed Keys celebrated her first victory on Australian soil since winning her first Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park last January, defeating fellow American McCartney Kessler 6-4, 6-3.

Keys acknowledged needing time to acclimate, admitting that she felt some early jitters and had to “shake off a bit of rust” before settling into her rhythm. Once that happened, her shot-making began to align.

As a Grand Slam champion, Keys expressed her desire to challenge herself further in 2026, aiming to step outside her comfort zone as the season progresses.

“I’ve been really concentrating on advancing to the net more often. My primary goal, not only for this event but for the entire year, is to engage in activities that make me uncomfortable on the court. At times, especially when I’m nervous or during tight matches, I revert to what feels more secure, which can lead to issues. So, my focus is on applying what I’ve practiced in significant moments throughout the year,” Keys remarked after her victory.