Raphael Collignon stunned tennis fans and analysts alike on Thursday, January 8, 2026, by defeating two-time Brisbane International champion Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets, 7-6(1), 6-3, at the Brisbane International Presented by Evie. The 23-year-old Belgian qualifier delivered a performance brimming with poise and power, toppling the world No. 47 and surging into his second career tour-level quarter-final.
Heading into their Round of 16 clash on Pat Rafter Arena, all eyes were on Dimitrov, who was riding the momentum of a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory over Pablo Carreno Busta in the first round. Bookmakers favored the Bulgarian, giving him -200 odds to win, while Collignon was seen as the underdog at +154. According to the implied probabilities, Collignon’s chances hovered around 66.7%, but most experts and pundits still had Dimitrov as the clear favorite. Tennis Tonic, for example, predicted Dimitrov would win in two sets, citing his experience and recent form.
But Collignon had other ideas. The Belgian, ranked 84th at the start of the week, had already fought his way through qualifying and dispatched three opponents—Alexander Shevchenko, Ethan Quinn, and Denis Shapovalov—without dropping a set. His run included a particularly impressive 6-4, 6-2 win over Shapovalov in the first round, where he struck 29 winners, served 2 aces, and conceded zero double faults. Across his three matches in the main draw, Collignon tallied 22 aces and broke his opponents a total of 10 times, all while being broken just twice himself.
On the other side of the net, Dimitrov had returned to the tour after a pectoral injury at Wimbledon that cut his 2025 season short. He made a brief comeback at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris, managing a win against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard before withdrawing from his next match. Brisbane marked his first tournament of the new year, and he looked sharp in his opener, blasting 26 winners and 7 aces against Carreno Busta, and winning a remarkable 87% of his first serve points. Dimitrov’s career hard-court record—130 wins to 76 losses—suggested he’d be tough to beat, particularly as he hadn’t dropped a set or a service game in his previous match.
Yet, in their first-ever head-to-head meeting, Collignon’s relentless energy and tactical discipline flipped the script. The Belgian saved all three break points he faced and won an eye-popping 82% (36 out of 44) of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Dimitrov, for his part, struggled to find any rhythm on return, unable to capitalize on the few chances he earned. The match stretched to nearly two hours, with the first set culminating in a dominant tiebreak for Collignon, who raced away 7-1. In the second set, Collignon’s confidence only grew, and he broke Dimitrov’s serve to seize control, closing out the match 6-3.
After the match, Collignon was beaming. "It was an honour for me to play against Grigor," he 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." The victory not only earned Collignon a place in the quarter-finals but also propelled him up 13 spots to No. 71 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, putting him on track for a new career-high when the official rankings update on Monday.
For Dimitrov, the defeat marked another bump in his ongoing comeback journey. The 34-year-old Bulgarian’s return from injury had shown flashes of his trademark shot-making and athleticism, but Collignon’s unyielding serve and clutch play proved too much on the day. Dimitrov’s career win rate of 63% (274-160) and his history of success on hard courts weren’t enough to stave off Collignon’s surge.
Looking at the broader tournament context, Collignon’s run is even more remarkable considering his path. He began in the qualifying rounds, stringing together victories over Shevchenko (7-5, 6-4), Quinn (7-5, 6-3), and then Shapovalov. In total, he racked up 92 winners across his main-draw matches, matching Dimitrov’s 46% winner percentage but doing so over six grueling sets compared to Dimitrov’s two. While Dimitrov had the higher break point conversion rate in the tournament (75% to Collignon’s 32%), it was Collignon’s ability to save break points and hold serve under pressure that ultimately made the difference.
Statistically, both players were impressive. Collignon averaged 7.3 aces per match, maintained a 65% first-serve percentage, and won 82% of his first-serve points. He was broken only twice in 61 games played, a testament to his composure when facing break points. Dimitrov, meanwhile, was unbroken through his first match and saved the only break point he faced, but against Collignon, he couldn’t find a way through.
The win sets up a quarter-final clash between Collignon and American Brandon Nakashima, who advanced with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Quentin Halys. For Collignon, it’s an opportunity to build on his momentum and perhaps push even further into uncharted territory. The Belgian has never played in the Brisbane International before, making his run all the more impressive. With a 3-0 record on hard courts in 2026, he’s quickly becoming one of the breakout stories of the early season.
Elsewhere in the tournament, the action remains fierce. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard continued his strong form with a three-set victory over Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata, while Aleksandar Kovacevic upset seventh seed Cameron Norrie in another thrilling encounter. But it’s Collignon’s upset of Dimitrov that has the tennis world buzzing, as fans and pundits alike wonder just how far the Belgian qualifier can go.
As the Brisbane International heads into its decisive stages, Raphael Collignon’s remarkable run stands as a testament to the unpredictable magic of sport. With a career-best ranking within reach and his confidence soaring, all eyes will be on the young Belgian as he prepares for his next big test.
