Elena Rybakina defeated Shuai Zhang 6–3, 7–5 in the first round of the Brisbane WTA 250 on hard court on 6 January 2026, confirming her status as the overwhelming pre-match favourite with odds of 1.11 to Zhang's 8.14. Rybakina controlled both sets with clinical efficiency, breaking serve at crucial moments to secure the opening set before edging a more competitive second frame. The result underscores Rybakina's continued dominance on hard courts and her positioning as one of the tournament's principal threats as she progresses toward the later rounds.