The four-times Grand Slam champion, who is eyeing her third Australian Open trophy when the tournament begins on January 18 at Melbourne Park, was pushed harder in the next set but edged ahead again at 5-4 to wrap up the win on serve.
Kyrgios, the 2018 Brisbane champion, is now ranked 673rd in the world with no protected ranking and will also need a wildcard to compete at Melbourne Park.
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka set social media abuzz with playful romance rumours after a cheeky remark about her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, during her Brisbane International victory speech on Sunday.
New Melbourne queen Rybakina happy to find highest level again
World number one Aryna Sabalenka began her 2026 campaign with a thumping victory at the Brisbane International on Tuesday while her "Battle of the Sexes" opponent Nick Kyrgios fell short on his return to singles action after nearly a year out.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka enters the Australian Open in her familiar role as the hot favourite but unlike in the past two years the powerful Belarusian arrives without a title to defend or the momentum of a winning run in Melbourne.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka brushed aside Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3 in the Brisbane International final on Sunday to retain the title without losing a set ahead of her bid to reclaim the Australian Open title this month.
Rafael Nadal continued his impressive return from a long injury layoff with a 6-1 6-2 demolition of wildcard Jason Kubler to reach the quarter-finals at the Brisbane International on Thursday ahead of this month's Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka felt the nerves but looked solid on her return to elite tennis after 15 months out as she got past Germany's Tamara Korpatsch 6-3 7-6(9) in the first round of the Brisbane International.
The journey of Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios as a doubles pair ended with a thrilling defeat by top seeds Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus.
Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic upset Spain's Fernando Verdasco 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to claim the men's singles title at the inaugural Brisbane International.
Belarussian Victoria Azarenka beat Marion Bartoli 6-3 6-1 in the women's final at the Brisbane International on Saturday to capture her first WTA singles title.
Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Brisbane International on Tuesday due to inflammation around her collarbone and the world No 2 is still unable to hit a serve just two weeks before the start of the Australian Open.
Aryna Sabalenka will bid for a third Australian Open title in succession as if she was going for her first
Maria Sharapova beat Ana Ivanovic in the final of the Brisbane International on Saturday in a display that bodes well for her chances at the Australian Open.
Lucky loser Taro Daniel will replace Nadal in the second round against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Caroline Wozniacki's preparations for the Australian Open were in tatters on Monday after she was bundled out of the Brisbane International by Kazakhstan's world No 103 Ksenia Pervak.
Aryna Sabalenka took a step closer to a first trophy of the year before her Australian Open title defence begins later this month.
Venus Williams has pulled out of the upcoming Brisbane International after suffering a 'setback' in training
A ruthless Andy Murray powered his way to a 6-1, 6-3 win over injury-hampered Alexandr Dolgopolov to win the Brisbane International and take a timely shot of confidence ahead of the Australian Open.
The decibel readings were not needed for Victoria Azarenka on Monday as the groans from the crowd at the Brisbane International almost drowned out her trademark shrieks.
Sinner remains the man to beat at Melbourne Park even as doping officials seek a two-year ban for the world number one for failing two drugs tests last March.
Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy advanced to the semi-finals of the doubles event of the ATP Brisbane International after getting a walk over from the local pair of Ashley Fisher and Stephen Huss on Thursday.
Maria Sharapova made a powerful start to the new tennis season on Tuesday, crushing Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova 6-0, 6-1 at the Brisbane International on Tuesday.
Sania Mirza and her American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands reached the first final of the new season when their opponents -- Daniela Hantuchova and Katarina Srebotnik -- conceded the semi-final match at the WTA Brisbane International.
Novak Djokovic said teaming up with Nick Kyrgios in the Brisbane International was going to be a fun experience as the 24-times Grand Slam winner arrived in the city on Saturday ahead of the Australian Open tune-up tournament.
Kim Clijsters suffered an injury scare ahead of her Australian Open defence when she was forced to retire from her Brisbane International semi-final against Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova on Friday.
Roger Federer registers his 1,000 ATP career win.
Djokovic tamed local favourite Rinky Hijikata 6-3, 6-3 in what was the top seeded Serbian's first tour-level singles match since October.
Novak Djokovic expressed his frustration at being "kept in the dark" about world number one Jannik Sinner's doping case, saying in Brisbane on Sunday that it was not a good look for tennis.
Novak Djokovic's bid for a 100th ATP Tour title gained momentum on Thursday
An inspired Milos Raonic toppled Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4 to win the Brisbane International on Sunday and avenge his defeat to the Swiss master in last year's final.
World No 1 Serena Williams showed plenty of rust in her first competitive outing of the year ahead of the Australian Open, but battled through to defeat Andrea Petkovic in straight sets at the Brisbane International on Tuesday.
Djokovic saved three breakpoints in stifling conditions to go 5-4 up but lost the opening set in a tough tiebreak as Opelka cranked up his serve
Former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka began her warm-up to the first Grand Slam of the year in convincing fashion with a 6-2,6-0 win over Russian Elena Vesnina in their first round match at the Brisbane International on Monday.
There could be no place more appropriate for Djokovic to finally break free of his tie with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam singles titles than in her own backyard at Melbourne Park, where he has won the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup 10 times.
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios enthralled fans on their debut as a doubles team on Monday
Serena Williams laid down an imposing marker ahead of the first grand slam of the year by powering to a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka at the Brisbane International.
Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt will resume one of the oldest rivalries in tennis when they contest the Brisbane International final on Sunday.
Japan's Kei Nishikori and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus continued their Australian Open preparations by swiftly marching through to the quarter finals of the Brisbane International on Wednesday.
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