Daniil Medvedev’s resurgence at the Brisbane International has electrified the early days of the 2026 tennis season, as the former world No.1 stormed into his 90th career quarterfinal with a commanding straight-sets victory over Frances Tiafoe. On Wednesday, Medvedev dispatched the American 6-3, 6-2 in just 61 minutes, a performance that not only showcased his trademark baseline prowess but also underlined his new-found confidence on serve—a direct result of recent strategic changes to his coaching team and training regimen.
“The court is pretty fast so you need to serve well and I am happy with the way I served,” Medvedev said after the match, echoing a sentiment that’s become increasingly evident in his play. He didn’t face a single break point throughout the contest, putting relentless pressure on Tiafoe and maintaining his dominant head-to-head record—he’s now beaten the American six times in seven meetings. “I thought I played much better than in the first round, didn’t face a break point, and that puts a lot of pressure on the opponent. I had a couple of good games on his serve and that was enough today.”
Medvedev, now ranked 13th in the world, is the only seed remaining in Brisbane as of January 7, 2026, and is widely regarded as the clear favorite to claim his 22nd ATP title. This is his second appearance in Brisbane; he previously reached the final in 2019. But this year’s campaign carries a different energy—a sense of renewal following a turbulent period marked by a coaching shakeup and a quest for reinvention after a heartbreaking loss to Jannik Sinner in the 2024 Australian Open final, where Medvedev led by two sets before succumbing in five.
The Russian’s journey back to the top has been anything but straightforward. After the 2025 US Open, Medvedev made the difficult decision to part ways with longtime coach Gilles Cervara, seeking a fresh perspective to reignite his game. He brought on Thomas and Rohan Goetzke, the latter an Australian coach, to form a new support team. “Yeah, actually we talk a lot about Thomas, but I do work with Thomas and Rohan, as well, Rohan Goetzke, who is actually Australian. So he will be in Melbourne. And even if Rohan spends much less time with me, kind of puts the same input as Thomas, because they do work together almost on a daily basis even if Rohan is many times far away,” Medvedev explained in his post-Tiafoe press conference.
Medvedev’s off-season was marked by hard work and introspection. “For example, during the pre-season, we spent two weeks together, two great weeks. Of course, as I said, we work on everything, forehand, backhand, but we try to maybe put a bit more attention to the serve and the volley. Has been working well these first two matches,” he said, highlighting the emphasis on serve and volley—an area that’s already paid dividends in Brisbane.
The results speak for themselves. Medvedev’s serve has been rock-solid, and his aggression at the net has added a new dimension to his baseline-heavy game. After winning a title in late 2025—his first in two and a half years—he’s carried that momentum into the new season, setting the stage for a potential deep run both in Brisbane and at the upcoming Australian Open.
But the Russian isn’t the only story in Brisbane. The men’s draw has been packed with drama and surprises, with several rising stars and battle-tested veterans making their mark. Kamil Majchrzak of Poland, Medvedev’s next opponent, booked his quarterfinal spot after a marathon win over the towering American Reilly Opelka. Majchrzak saved three match points to prevail 6-7(2), 7-6(7), 7-6(8), demonstrating nerves of steel and remarkable resilience. The Polish player, currently ranked 59th in the world, will be looking to spring another upset when he faces Medvedev in the last eight.
Elsewhere in the draw, American Alex Michelsen continued his strong form by defeating compatriot and former junior training partner Learner Tien 6-4, 6-2. Michelsen’s reward is a quarterfinal clash with Sebastian Korda, who advanced after defending champion Jiri Lehecka retired with an ankle injury while trailing 6-3, 1-2. Korda, the 25-year-old son of former Australian Open champion Petr Korda, will be eager to seize the opportunity and make a statement on Australian soil.
The tournament’s biggest shock came courtesy of Belgian qualifier Raphael Collignon. After dispatching Denis Shapovalov in the opening round, Collignon stunned two-time former Brisbane champion Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(1), 6-3 in a one-hour, 49-minute battle on Thursday. Collignon saved all three break points he faced, displaying composure beyond his 23 years. “It was an honour for me to play against Grigor,” Collignon said. “I was watching him as a kid when at home and now I am playing against him, so it was a great pleasure to play against a great champion in Grigor and I am very happy with the way I played.”
Collignon’s next challenge will be Brandon Nakashima, who upset second seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first round and followed up with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Quentin Halys. Nakashima, now into his second quarterfinal on Australian soil, continues to build momentum as he eyes a breakthrough run.
The French contingent remains in the mix as well, with Mpetshi Perricard backing up his first-round upset of fourth seed Tommy Paul by edging Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(4). Perricard hammered 53 winners in a display of raw power and determination, keeping alive hopes of matching last year’s semifinal appearance. He’ll next face Aleksander Kovacevic, who ousted seventh seed Cameron Norrie 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4 in another tightly contested encounter.
With the top seeds tumbling and a new wave of contenders stepping up, the Brisbane International has become a proving ground for both established stars and hungry newcomers. Yet all eyes remain on Medvedev, whose transformation over the past six months has injected fresh intrigue into the men’s game. His blend of experience, tactical evolution, and renewed hunger makes him the man to beat—but as this tournament has already shown, surprises are never far away.
As the quarterfinals approach, the tennis world waits with bated breath to see if Medvedev’s momentum will carry him further, or if another giant-killer will emerge from the pack. With the Australian Open looming just ten days away, Brisbane’s action is setting the tone for a season brimming with possibilities and plot twists.