WTA Brisbane and Auckland 2026

[Miss_Vee]

Brisbane has already started 2 nights ago.  Sabalenka and Badosa paired up in doubles to win last night.  Anyway, Sabalenka is defending champion here.  This draw is so tough for everyone.  Anisimova is the no 2 seed, and can meet Sabalenka in the final.  

Venus is appearing in Auckland for her first tournament this year.  Tauson is defending champion, but seems to have chosen to play Brisbane.  Btw, Pliskova is on the comeback trail.  I think she hasn’t played in almost 2 years.  

[fedexpress06]

Hope Rybakina does damage at the AO.  have no hope for Keys defending all those points and Mboko isn't quite ready yet to win 7 matches without her body falling apart.  And Avatar Pliskova is back?? lord 

[Miss_Vee]

Rybakina continues to look really good.  She faces Badosa next round.  Anisimova is looking great also.  However, Sabalenka has a lot to prove to herself, and to the watching public.  This Brisbane draw is stacked.  Andreeva faces Noskova next round as well.  Both have a chance to move though.  

[Miss_Vee]

Just saw a video clip of Anisimova vs Kostyuk, who bundled Amanda out of the tournament in straight sets.  Seems as if Kostyuk has revamped her serve, and is injecting more pace in her groundies, at least that’s what I read….lol.

Today Rybakina went out to Muchova in 3 tough sets.  Darn it, Muchova return in her first tournament and now is through to the semis, where she will likely face Sabalenka.  Keys is down a set and a break facing Sabalenka.

[fedexpress06]

Sabalenka beat Muchova who is always a headache for her ugh was hoping Muchova would've found a way.  Hopefully in Melbourne.  Kostyuk doing this now means she'll lose to Varvara Gracheva in week 1 at the AO. 

[Miss_Vee]

I know Fedex!  😂.  Whatever she thinks she is doing right now, means that she will be worn out by AO.  You also have to know that Sabalenka will be prepared for this final.  She has revenge in her heart, because Kostyuk intimated at the end of last year, that Aryna must have a higher level of testosterone in her body, and that’s Kostyuk she has a tough time beating her. 

[fedexpress06]

that trophy presentation will be awkward.  the testosterone comments and just the nationality conflict.  Both of these women can be petulant toddlers. .  

[Miss_Vee]

I never saw the match live, but Aryna dismissed Kostyuk in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 I think.  Incidentally that comment was made about both Swiatek and Sabalenka.   Apparently I’m an attempt to clarify her position in Brisbane, Kostyuk had said that her initial comment was taken out of context by the reporter or something.  Whatever the case, I think it was a stupid comment, because she intimating that because she is a smaller girl physically with less musculature, she has biologically less testerone than those 2 girls?!?  Well go and buff yourself up then….sheesh!!

How does Kostyuk explain other less physically gifted players beating Sabalenka and Swiatek?  Smh!!

[Miss_Vee]

Svitolina won Auckland.  Everyone was throwing the narrative around that Eala was favoured to take this title.  Huh?!?!  That girl folds at the business end of every tournament where she is hyped to do well.  Hope this fascination with her disappears soon. She is simply an average player who might sit in the top 50 for years.

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Mboko beat Haddah Maia and Kalinskaya. Tonight we get Mboko-Keys. 

[Miss_Vee]

Thank goodness you showed up Sek.  I was about to send the authorities in Minnesota to find you, to make sure that you are ok….lol.  

Anyhow, I cannot wait for this match tonight.  First meeting.  I think Keys experience gives her the edge, but it should be a tough match.  Keys dismissed her opponent last night very easily.  However Vicky has always presented the seasoned players with a tough challenge.  Rybakina beat her the first time they met.  The second time, she beat Rybakina.  We shall see tonight.  I will not be able to watch live, unless I download a streaming channel. I will wait to see these players live, next week.

[Miss_Vee]

Sekasi, I tried to downplay Mboko’s chances of winning this first encounter facing Maddie Keys, but damn…lol…the girl is playing out of her mind.  She took the first set 6-4, went up by a break twice in the second, but Keys won 6-4.  Now Vicky leads 5-2, and is about to serve for the match.  Just following scores.

[Miss_Vee]

Mboko is off the SF in Adelaide, having dethroned last years Champion Keys.  This gives her so much confidence heading to AO in 4 days.

[Miss_Vee]

It will be Mboko vs Birrell in the first SF in Adelaide

Andreeva vs Shnaider in the second SF tonight.

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Miss_Vee, what is that giant wrap on Mboko's right knee?

[Miss_Vee]

I’m not watching this match live, but I saw video clips last night after she had beaten Keys.  She said in a post match interview that it was preventative.  It’s her thigh and maybe upper leg?  Anyway, she started feeling discomfort in that area, so it remains wrapped.  Obviously not too painful, but I hope that she doesn’t have to play first day.  She is in the top half of the draw.  I’m hoping the women’s draw opens up with the bottom half.  That way she gets more than a day of treatment and rest.  I’m guessing it’s because she played 2 three setters before meeting Keys, and then had to go 3 sets with Keys.  At least she finished this match in a hurry..lol

[Miss_Vee]

I’m also hoping that Mboko wins the entire thing now.  Maybe feeling discomfort in her muscles so early isn’t great for her getting to later rounds at the AO.  However I remain hopeful that she will shake this off.  She is young.

[Miss_Vee]

Sek, if Mboko wins the final tomorrow night, she will settle in at WTA #13 in live rankings.  Barring injury, this teenager will be in the top 10 in a couple of months.….lol.  Can you say meteoric rise!?!???  This girl leaves me gobsmacked!

[Miss_Vee]

So it’s Mboko vs Andreeva in Saturday’s finale at the Adelaide tournament.  Andreeva just dropped Shnaider 6-3, 6-2, and hasn’t lost a set reaching the final.  Whereas Mboko played 3 three setters, and 1 straight set win…6-2, 6-1 to reach the final.  Mboko is presently wearing a huge strapping on her mid thigh and upper leg area on her right leg.  Simply preventative.  However it hasn’t hampered her movement visibly.

Who will win this final?  I’m continuing to bet on Mboko.  Normally I would think Andreeva.  However, Mboko is mentally stronger than Andreeva.  Wish I could watch that match live.  Can’t wait for this final.

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Mboko was sublime last night, granted  her opponent was a wild card trying to be very aggressive. 

Mboko's BH is very solid. She was returning the serves for winners like she was playing Errani.

I think biggest question as she continues to progress is injuries. The girl has movement.

Let's see how she handles Andreeva tonight.

[Miss_Vee]

I saw a video clip shortly after the conclusion of the match, and I agree that Mboko was simply….in your words…sublime.  I also am concerned about injuries for Mboko.  I know that the long gruelling matches at the start of the season can cause injuries.  So I hope she uses the days off during AO, to rest as much as possible.  This girl is going to continue winning tough matches a lot, because of her mindset.

I can see that Mboko has to bring that strong serve that she had last night, because Andreeva will try to disrupt her rhythm, by using her variety.  However unlike other power players, Mboko has great foot speed and has variety of shot also….like Gauff.  So it will be interesting to watch this match.  I will wait for the videos tonight if Mboko wins it all.

[Miss_Vee]

Mirra won….easily.  Vicky didn’t have anything left in the tank.  On to Melbourne.  Let’s go Vicky Mboko.  

[Sekasi_ChangeIsComing]

Oh no Vicky, what happened? I really wanted her to beat that child, lol.

[Miss_Vee]

Sek….Vicky had 1 break in the first set, and then that child reeled off 9 games in a row.  Vicky took a MTO, but she seemed to have simply run out of gas.  That’s it in a nutshell.    

I hope that she has enough in the tank left to get to the 4th round, where she might meet Sabalenka….or is it the quarters?  I also hope her right knee holds up.  That’s a bit of concern at the moment.