Djokovic wins 100th title, Sabalenka & Rune star: Brisbane International predictions
The 2025 tennis season is officially underway and the Brisbane International has always proven to be a key event in the Australian swing.
The main draw officially got underway on Sunday but will get into full swing across Monday and Tuesday, with some of the biggest names in tennis in action.
Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic are the top seeds in the women’s and men’s draw respectively, and lead the potential title contenders.
Here, we make our predictions for the Brisbane draw.
Djokovic makes history
Should Djokovic win in Brisbane, he would follow Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer in becoming just the third man to win 100 career singles titles in the Open Era.
That is by no means a given considering the issues the Serbian faced in 2024, though the world No 7 is the top seed and title favourite at the ATP 250 event.
He has also benefitted fairly kindly from the draw, with second seed Grigor Dimitrov and third Holger Rune – last year’s finalists – both on the opposite side to him.
Djokovic could face his US Open conqueror, seventh seed Alexei Popyrin, in the quarter-final and then fourth seed Frances Tiafoe in the semi-final.
However, the 24-time major winner seems fresh mentally and physically, and has produced the best tennis of his career Down Under; history looks set to be made this week.
Who could challenge him?
The two obvious candidates to challenge him are Dimitrov, who comes in as the defending champion, and Rune – who has not reached a final since his run in Brisbane 12 months ago.
2024 did ultimately prove to be a difficult season for Rune, with the 21-year-old Dane falling back out of the top 10 after reaching a career-high of fourth the previous season.
However, his potential is undeniable and, with less pressure on his shoulders in 2025, a resurgence is more than possible.
The third seed faces a tricky opener against Jiri Lehecka but, should he pass that test, has what looks to be a largely clear path to the last four.
Winning the title may be a step too far – but a run to the final looks more than possible.
Expect the likes of Dimitrov and Tiafoe to threaten as well, with the returning Nick Kyrgios and Matteo Berrettini unseeded dark horses.
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Sabalenka dominates
Twelve months ago Sabalenka was handed a heavy defeat in the women’s final by Elena Rybakina, though that did not stop her winning two Grand Slam titles and ending the season as the world No 1.
With defending champion Rybakina in United Cup action and provisional second seed Jessica Pegula having withdrawn, the Belarusian is now the clear class of the field.
Sabalenka is the heavy favourite to lift the title in Brisbane and, if she is anywhere near her best, it is hard to see who could threaten her.
A potential semi-final against fourth seed and close friend Paula Badosa could be a test, as could a final against second seed Emma Navarro.
But there is no denying that Sabalenka should come through this draw and begin preparation for her Australian Open title defence by winning an 18th WTA title.
Key challengers
Navarro is certainly one key challenger; the world No 8 starts 2025 off the back of her career-best season and beat the world No 1 at Indian Wells last season.
However, she does not have an easy draw in Brisbane, with the 23-year-old potentially facing Diana Shnaider or Marta Kostyuk in the last eight.
Fifth seed Shnaider and ninth seed Kostyuk are set for a Round 3 collision as they look to continue their own momentum from 2024; the winner of that potential clash will have a real chance to go deep.
Also keep an eye out on teen star Mirra Andreeva, who will look to rise even further up the rankings after climbing to 16th in the world.
The 17-year-old is the eighth seed in Brisbane and could face Badosa in the quarter-finals.
