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January 11, 2026
#Hakinakina: Tennis Headlines from Auckland & Australia
Waatea Team
Posted On January 11, 2026
The 2026 international tennis season is building to a thrilling climax this weekend with finals set in both Auckland’s ASB Classic and at the United Cup and Brisbane International in Australia.
In Auckland, the women’s singles final of the ASB Classic – one of the lead-up tournaments to the Australian Open – features a fascinating showdown between top seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and China’s Xinyu Wang. Svitolina, a seasoned tour star and former world No. 3, will be looking to capture her first ASB Classic title after coming through tough matches to reach the final. Wang, seeded seventh, has shown great resilience this week, saving match points and battling through an intense semifinal to earn her place in the title match in front of the home crowd.
Sports analysts say the contrast in experience – with Svitolina’s many years on the WTA Tour versus Wang’s rapidly rising trajectory – will be a key storyline on final day in Auckland. The final promises to be a great contest on the outdoor hard courts at the ASB Tennis Centre.
Meanwhile, across the Tasman in Australia, tennis fans are also watching major finals unfold. At the Brisbane International, world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus has reached the women’s final and will face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, who has been in excellent form with notable wins over higher-ranked opponents.
At the United Cup – the mixed-team event featuring top players from around the world – the final sees Poland take on Switzerland after a dramatic semifinal weekend of action.
For tennis lovers tuning in from Aotearoa, the ASB Classic final is a chance to see world-class tennis on local soil, while the wider Australasian finals offer plenty of excitement as players prepare for the year’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open, beginning later this month.
Stay with Radio Waatea for live score updates and results as these tournaments conclude.
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