Amanda Anisimova’s 2026 Brisbane International campaign ended abruptly on Thursday, January 8, at the Pat Rafter Arena against Marta Kostyuk. She arrived at the tournament as the second seed and was one of the favorites following her breakthrough 2025 season.
The American’s opening match against the local wildcard, Kimberly Birrell, proved exactly that as she cruised with a commanding straight-sets victory but faced difficulties in her match against Kostyuk.
Major Upset at Brisbane International as Amanda Anisimova Loses to Marta Kostyuk
Anisimova entered the matchup as the clear favorite against Kostyuk following her dominant second-round win, beating Birrell in just 64 minutes. The new World No. 3 was expected to reach the quarterfinals with ease, but the match took an unexpected turn.
During the first set of the match, Anisimova struggled with her physical condition, requiring a medical timeout at 2-3 down. She briefly left the court for medical evaluation and treatment on her right thigh. The top-ranked American, however, ignored the injury scare and showed resilience as she decided to continue instead of retiring from the match.
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Medical time out for Amanda Anisimova
Treatment on the right thigh
Marta Kostyuk to serve next at 2-3 down pic.twitter.com/oAALwReimW
— edgeAI (@edgeAIapp) January 8, 2026
The damage, though, was done, as she struggled to gain any momentum after the timeout, allowing Kostyuk to capitalize on her weakness. The Ukrainian showed remarkable consistency and played with precision to secure victory against the third-ranked player. She beat Anisimova 6-4, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals, keeping the hopes of her title pursuit alive.
From the turning point, Kostyuk dominated the match, firing six aces compared to Anisimova’s two, while converting four of the nine break point opportunities. In terms of service, the Ukrainian landed 68% of her first serves, winning 76% of points while committing four double faults. She also won eight of her nine service games, leaving the American with absolutely no answers.
Meanwhile, the World No. 3 struggled to find her rhythm and committed five double faults. Her service game also took a hit, as she won only 65% of her first serves and 56% of her second serves. She only converted one of the six breakpoint opportunities she produced during the match, ultimately ending her campaign in Brisbane.
For Anisimova, this marks a disappointing exit from the tournament and a concerning start to the 2026 season, just days before the year’s first Grand Slam.
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The American is one of the top contenders for the upcoming Australian Open, but today’s events might have some consequences. She proved to be a major threat to top players in 2025, reaching the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open.
With the injury concern, Anisimova will need to take necessary steps in order to be 100% fit and ready if she wants a deep run in Melbourne.
