ITF to review wildcard entries after viral performance
The International Tennis Federation says it will review its procedures for awarding wildcards after a female player’s “unacceptable” performance went viral on social media.
The International Tennis Federation says it will review its procedures for awarding wildcards after a female player’s “unacceptable” performance went viral on social media.
Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt had not regrets about resting Alex de Minaur in the decisive mixed doubles against Poland in the United Cup quarter-finals Friday night in Sydney.
After his two-hour, 18 minute victory over Hubert Hurkacz to send the tie to a deciding mixed doubles, de Minaur did not front up for mixed with Storm Hunter, like he did when Australia needed the mixed point to beat Czechia Tuesday to advance through the group stages.
Hunter teamed with John-Patrick Smith in a 6-4, 6-0 defeat to Jan Zielinski and Katarzyna Kawa.
[NO 1 CLUB]“Alex was feeling a few tweaks the last few days,” Hewitt said. “He’s been doing a lot of training in the off-season to get ready for five-set matches. We decided the best thing for his body moving forward was not to put his hand up to play mixed tonight.
“Also, if you are that second match, to turn around straightaway and switch on. You just don’t want to risk injury as well at certain times, especially the amount of moving he had to do tonight against a bloody quality player out there.”
De Minaur produced a heroic performance in the singles, saving nine break points across his first four service games before going on a streak of winning 21 consecutive points on serve through the late stages of the second set.
He won 82 per cent of first serves for the match, a vast improvement from 55 per cent and eight double faults in a scrappy opening-tie loss to Casper Ruud earlier in the tournament.
“I think what was a little bit strange for me was the amount of double-faults,” de Minaur said. “That’s something I don’t normally hit. Obviously that was what felt like an anomaly. We got back to the practice court, just worked on a couple things, a couple different feels.
“I’m very happy with my serving performance the following two matches, kind of showing all the work that I put in. Of course, if I can land first serves and play with a lot of first serves, it makes my life a whole lot easier. Makes me definitely a more dangerous opponent.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Daniil Medvedev recovered from a slow start on Friday before remaining on track in his title pursuit at the Brisbane International presented by ANZ.
The top seed was initially outgunned by lucky loser Kamil Majchrzak in the first set, but adopted a more aggressive approach to prevail 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2 and book his spot in the semi-finals. Medvedev, who reached the championship match in his only previous appearance in Brisbane in 2019, is chasing his 22nd tour-level trophy this week after a strong finish to 2025.
“I’m super happy with myself” 😊@DaniilMedwed comes back from a set down to defeat Majchrzak in Brisbane 👏@BrisbaneTennis | #BrisbaneInternational pic.twitter.com/4hLEdEv5eK
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 9, 2026
“I think it was a high-quality match. I would honestly say it was a Top 10 match in terms of shotmaking,” said Medvedev, the former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. “I’m happy with myself… I managed to stay composed and hit some great shots to win the match.”
By reaching his 52nd tour-level semi-final on hard courts, Medvedev broke his tie with Gael Monfils for the second most among active players, trailing only Novak Djokovic (127). Against Majchrzak, Medvedev dropped just five points on serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats, in the deciding set.
Medvedev next plays Alex Michelsen, who edged countryman Sebastian Korda 6-3, 7-6(7) for his 50th tour-level win on hard courts. Michelsen was rock solid behind serve, saving the only break point he faced, but he was significantly helped by Korda’s 37 unforced errors during their one-hour, 39-minute clash.
In the bottom half of the draw, Aleksandar Kovacevic and Brandon Nakashima scored contrasting wins to set an all-American semi-final in Brisbane. Kovacevic weathered 24 aces from 6’8” Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard to eventually prevail 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3, while Nakashima eased past Belgian qualifier Raphael Collignon 6-3, 6-3 to reach his 10th ATP Tour semi-final.
“I’m super happy with the way I played. I knew it was going to be a very tough match, he had a couple of great wins here already,” Nakashima said of Collignon, who downed two-time Brisbane champion Grigor Dimitrov in the second round. “I knew I had to bring my best game, and I’m happy I did it in the end.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Stan Wawrinka receives an Australian Open wildcard as he begins the final season of his career, but Australian Nick Kyrgios misses out.
Australia’s Alex de Minaur produced one of the grittiest opening-set performances of his career Friday night in Sydney to set up a 6-4, 4-6 6-4 win over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz and send the last United Cup quarter-final to a deciding mixed doubles.
The World No. 6 saved all nine break points he faced across his first four service games – including four in the second game of the match – to keep Australia alive after former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek brushed aside Aussie teen Maya Joint 6-1, 6-1.
“Nights like these… these are just the best,” De Minaur said. “I love playing here. The atmosphere from the first ball to the last was amazing.
“I just had to fight him off from the first point to the last. It was a huge mental effort and we’re still alive. I’m glad I was able to bounce back after losing that second set. I had some dark thoughts in my head.”
The tie will now be decided by the mixed doubles, with the winner advancing to Saturday night’s semi-final against defending champion United States. None of the four singles players will compete in the mixed doubles. Australians John-Patrick Smith and Storm Hunter will take on Jan Zielinski and Katarzyna Kawa.
Playing his first tournament since last year’s grass season, Hurkcaz was near untouchable in his first three service games when he dropped just one point on serve. But growing increasingly frustrated by his inability to cash in on his chances in return games, his unforced error count ticked up in the closing stages of the set.
After De Minaur saved three break points to level at 4-4, the 26-year-old claimed the decisive break and then won 21 consecutive points on serve before unexpectedly dropping serve at the end of the second set.
But inspired by deafening roars from Aussie fans inside Ken Rosewall Arena, De Minaur went into lockdown mode with just two unforced errors in the final set en route to his eighth victory in 11 United Cup singles appearances.
[NO 1 CLUB]Earlier, Swiatek overpowered Australia rising star Joint, capturing a convincing 6-1, 6-1 win in just 57 minutes at the United Cup quarterfinals.
From start to finish, the World No. 2’s experience prevailed as the Swiatek earned her second career win over Joint: Swiatek won 6-0, 6-2 in the Seoul semifinals, a tournament she’d go on to win. Swiatek also earned her 15th singles win at the United Cup.
“I think the intensity — the balls get quite heavy so I’m happy that I was always pushing forward,” Swiatek said on court. “I got pretty confident at the end so for sure it was a good match.”
Joint held serve to have an initial 1-0 lead, but after, the Swiatek show ensued. The six-time Grand Slam champion overwhelmingly controlled the rallies, often forcing Joint to scramble from side-to-side just to keep the rally alive.
Swiatek won six straight games to win the first set with a breadstick in 26 minutes and had garnered “Iga” chants from her Polish supporters early on into the match. Her set point, a cross-court forehand winner that sped past an outstretched Joint, summed up the match best.
In the second, Swiatek and Joint traded holds, the latter of which earned some encouragement from the home crowd. Similarly, Swiatek recaptured the lead with a break, and didn’t look back, en route to the double breadstick win.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]World number one Aryna Sabalenka continues her Australian Open preparations by beating Madison Keys to reach the Brisbane semi-finals.
The start time for Saturday’s play at the United Cup has been brought forward.
With high temperatures forecast for Saturday 10 January in the afternoon, the start time of the Belgium-Switzerland Day Session semi-final will begin at 10 a.m. Previously, the tie was scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
Gates and arena doors will open from 9 a.m.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Australian Open tournament organisers announced Friday that they have awarded Stan Wawrinka a main draw wild card into the season’s first major.
The Swiss star has made a good start to his year, helping Switzerland to the semi-finals of the United Cup. His country will play Belgium Saturday for a spot in the final of the mixed-teams event.
Wawrinka owns a 43-18 record at the Australian Open according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. In 2014, he won his first major title at Melbourne Park, beating Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal en route to the trophy.
This will be the 20th time Wawrinka competes in singles at the Australian Open. Last year he fell in four tight sets in the first round to Lorenzo Sonego.
The No. 156 player in the PIF ATP Rankings has missed just one edition of the tournament since 2006 and has advanced to at least the quarter-finals five times. The 40-year-old recently announced that 2026 will be his last year competing on the ATP Tour.
Read Feature: Why Wawrinka’s last dance will be more salsa than slow waltz
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