Elena Rybakina vs Zhang Shuai Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Rybakina to blitz Zhang in Brisbane opener

I'm really keen to see what Rybakina does during the Aussie summer. She had a turbulent little period there with injuries and off-court drama, but the Kazakh looks settled and arrives at this tournament following one of her greatest career triumphs - taking out the WTA Finals silverware at the end of 2025. Rybakina won five matches against fellow top 10 players - including Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek - to lift the trophy and has got to be considered amongst the leading contenders not just for the Brisbane title, but also the Australian Open later this month. Zhang meanwhile has done well to rebuild her career from a shocking 24-match losing streak, clawing her way back into the top 100 and having already won three matches in Brisbane from qualifying and her opening round, she's well and truly into her 2026 season.

However, I'm backing Rybakina to win this in routine fashion. The 26-year-old didn't drop more than four games in a set when she won the Brisbane title in her only previous appearance in 2024, while she's coming off an amazing run of form to win the WTA Finals. Rybakina's powerful brand of tennis and serving should prove far too hot for Zhang to handle. 

Nobody arrives in 2026 in hotter form than Rybakina, who produced some sizzling tennis to finish off 2025 by capturing the WTA Finals title for the first time.

The former Wimbledon champion saved her best tennis for the end of the year, where she conquered Amanda Anisimova, Iga Swiatek, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Jessica Pegula and Aryna Sabalenka to secure the silverware.

Rybakina only confirmed her spot at the WTA Finals by winning the title in Ningbo a month prior, so she comes into 2026 on an 11-match winning streak in competitive matches.

The Kazakh was on fire in her only other appearance in Brisbane in 2024, blitzing all of her opponents in straight sets - including a 6-0 6-3 demolition of Sabalenka in the final.

Zhang deserves immense credit for clawing herself back into the top 100 after a 24-match losing streak - the longest ever recorded at tour-level in professional tennis.

The Chinese veteran won three ITF titles in 2025, along with reaching the semi-finals of Guangzhou and third rounds in Beijing and Wuhan.

Zhang hasn't really had much of an off-season, deciding to play in the WTA 125k tournaments in Angers and Limoges in December, where she made the second round of both.

The 36-year-old has enjoyed a great start to 2026, qualifying for the Brisbane main draw with victories over Fiona Ferro and Taylah Preston before a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 victory against World No. 49 Ashlyn Krueger in the opening round of the main draw - Zhang's first top 50 scalp outside Asia in almost 12 months.

Watch and bet on Elena Rybakina vs Zhang Shuai live WTA Brisbane tennis.

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