Sabalenka vs Cirstea Brisbane Prediction 1/8/2026 Today’s Tennis Picks

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will face World No. 41 Sorana Cirstea in the third round of the 2026 Brisbane International on Thursday, January 8. Here’s our Aryna Sabalenka vs Sorana Cirstea prediction. This preview will also include an Aryna Sabalenka vs Sorana Cirstea pick.

Aryna Sabalenka vs Sorana Cirstea Preview

Aryna Sabalenka kicked off her title defense at the Brisbane International with the dismantling of World No. 50 Cristina Bucsa in straight sets. The match took 13 games to decide. Sabalenka ran out a comfortable 6-0, 6-1 winner in under an hour. Sabalenka broke Bucsa’s serve three times in the first set and only allowed the Spaniard to hold once in the second set.

In the victory, Sabalenka accounted for 4 aces. She landed 78% of first serves in play and won 79% of first serve points (22/28). Sabalenka won 88% of second serve points (7/8) and did not face a single break point in the match. Sabalenka extends her near-perfect record in Brisbane to 10-1. Her only defeat in this tournament was in 2024 when she lost to Elena Rybakina in the final.

Sorana Cirstea announced that she will be retiring in 2026 and the Romanian’s farewell season began with a 6-3, 6-1 victory against former French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. That match lasted for about an hour, with Cirstea accounting for 9 aces and 3 double faults. She won 83% of first serve points (25/30) and never faced a break point.

In the second round, Cirstea beat former French Open champion and World No. 23 Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets. The match lasted an hour and 47 minutes and took 21 games to decide. Cirstea hit 11 aces and 3 double faults in the win. She won 88% of first serve points (30/34) and saved three of four break points. Cirstea has never passed the last 16 stage in Brisbane.

Aryna Sabalenka vs Sorana Cirstea Head-To-Head

Sabalenka and Cirstea are tied at 1-1 in the head-to-head. Cirstea stunned the Belarusian in their first meeting during her incredible run in Miami three seasons ago. Sabalenka won their second meeting just two weeks later in Madrid.

Aryna Sabalenka vs Sorana Cirstea Prediction

Cirstea has been winning over 80% of first serve points in this tournament and securing massive scalps against big hitters like Pavlyuchenkova and Ostapenko. But Sabalenka operates in a different league in terms of firepower, return quality and consistency. Back the World No. 1 to power into the last eight in Brisbane.

Nur Said's Pick: Sabalenka in straight sets