After being reinstated on the Australian summer calendar in 2024, the Brisbane International returns for its 14th edition this weekend.
The tournament has long been a key event in Australian Open preparations, boasting past champions including Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.
In 2025, local favourite Ash Barty will serve as the tournament’s ambassador, showcasing her charity – the Ash Barty Foundation – on opening Sunday’s 'Family Fun Day', (December 29).
With qualifying rounds completed across Friday and Saturday, the Brisbane main draw will run from Sunday to Sunday, with finals held in a twilight session on January 5.
Alongside the United Cup, the 2025 Brisbane International features a strong lineup
of male and female players, with the Queensland Tennis Centre hosting a 500-level
women’s draw and a 250-level men’s draw.
Aussie Watch:
After virtually two years out of the game, Nick Kyrgios is set to make his long-awaited return to the tour in Brisbane, playing singles, and doubles alongside Novak Djokovic.
Following a patient recovery from his wrist injury, the showman will undoubtedly headline night action on Pat Rafter Arena, facing big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round.
After stellar 2024 seasons, Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson will both enter the Brisbane draw as seeds.
25-year-old Popyrin, who in 2024 claimed the biggest title by an Australian man in twenty years (winning the Montreal Masters 1000), will commence his season against Matteo Arnaldi.
Thompson, who finished 2024 in career-best form with a fourth-round berth at the US Open, will be tested first up against in-form Italian Matteo Berrettini.
Christopher O’Connell, who received a late reprieve after initially being outside the main draw cut-off, will face rising American Alex Michelsen.
Adam Walton, Rinky Hijikata, and Aleks Vukic were the recipients of the three main draw
wildcards, with a further nine Aussie men entering qualifying.
After soaring into the ATP top 100 for the first time in 2024, 25-year-old Walton will have the opportunity to play his maiden home tournament in Brisbane, facing Frances Tiafoe in the first round.
Hijikata will return to Brisbane after a strong campaign 12 months ago which saw him reach his first ATP quarterfinal on Aussie soil, but faces an almighty challenge against Novak Djokovic in round one.
Vukic – who received a wildcard courtesy of Thanasi Kokkinakis’ withdrawal – will face the experienced David Goffin in the opening round.
On the women’s side, three wildcards will make up the Australian contingent, with Kimberly Birrell, Maya Joint, and Talia Gibson awarded places in the main draw.
Two months on from her career-best tournament in Osaka, reaching a maiden WTA final, Birrell returns to her home state to commence her 2025 season against a qualifier.
Talented 18-year-old Joint, who rose from No.684 to No.116 in the WTA rankings in 2024 and has just turned pro this week, will play her first tour-level main draw match on home soil against a qualifier.
20-year-old Gibson will face Marie Bouzkova in just her third main draw match at WTA level.
Ajla Tomljanović had also received a wildcard, but withdrew due to a left knee injury she sustained at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals last month.
Rest of the Field:
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka will headline the women’s field, with the Belarusian seeking to go one better than in 2024 after falling to Elena Rybakina in last year’s final.
Top-10 stars Emma Navarro, and Daria Kasatkina will also be in action, rounding out a strong field. However, US Open finalist and world No.7 Jessica Pegula has withdrawn due to a knee injury.
In addition, former champion Victoria Azarenka will commence her summer in Brisbane, while rising 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva will be one for fans to keep an eye on.
On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic will kick off his 20th Australian summer, as the Serbian seeks his first title since the Paris Olympics.
Reigning men’s champion Grigor Dimitrov will return to Brisbane in the hope of defending his title and kicking off his Aussie summer in positive fashion, with many predicting the Bulgarian as a dark horse in Melbourne.
Other names of note in the men’s draw include 21-year-old Holger Rune, US Open
semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe and 38-year-old showman Gaël Monfils.
Aussie 1st Round Matches:
[7] Alexei Popyrin vs Matteo Arnaldi
[8] Jordan Thompson vs Matteo Berrettini
[PR] Nick Kyrgios vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Chris O'Connell vs Alex Michelsen
[WC] Aleks Vukic vs David Goffin
[WC] Rinky Hijikata vs [1] Novak Djokovic
[WC] Adam Walton vs [4] Frances Tiafoe
[WC] Kimberly Birrell vs [Q] Priscilla Hon
[WC] Maya Joint vs [Q] Maddison Inglis
[WC] Talia Gibson vs Marie Bouzkova
Full Women's Singles Draw:
Full Men's Singles Draw:
Click here to watch every match of the Brisbane International live on Stan Sport.
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