The Brisbane International 2026 ATP 250 launches the men’s 2026 tennis season with an ATP 250 field that is far more loaded than the typical ATP Tour 250-level event.
Played on fast outdoor courts in typically brutal Queensland heat, Brisbane has long rewarded first-strike tennis, elite serving, and hasn’t had a repeat champion since Andy Murray (2012-2013).
This year’s entry list clearly reflects a tournament where surface fit and physical readiness may matter more than pure ranking, and where the betting market often lags in these early-season events.
Read on for my Brisbane International 2026 ATP 250 preview.
Tournament Fact Sheet — Brisbane International 2026 (Men’s)
Tournament: Brisbane International
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Venue: Queensland Tennis Centre
Dates: January 4–11, 2026
Draw Size: 32 Singles / 16 Doubles
Defending Champion: Jiří Lehečka
Conditions:
Fast-playing hard courts paired with Brisbane’s early-season heat consistently favor big servers, aggressive returners, and players who show up fit and hungry.
Brisbane International – Men’s Singles Champions (Full History)
Here’s the complete Men’s Singles Champions history for the Brisbane International (ATP 250).
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Radek Štěpánek | Fernando Verdasco | 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 2010 | Andy Roddick | Radek Štěpánek | 7–6^(7–2), 7–6^(9–7) |
| 2011 | Robin Söderling | Andy Roddick | 6–3, 7–5 |
| 2012 | Andy Murray | Alexandr Dolgopolov | 6–1, 6–3 |
| 2013 | Andy Murray | Grigor Dimitrov | 7–6^(7–0), 6–4 |
| 2014 | Lleyton Hewitt | Roger Federer | 6–1, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 2015 | Roger Federer | Milos Raonic | 6–4, 6–7^(2–7), 6–4 |
| 2016 | Milos Raonic | Roger Federer | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 2017 | Grigor Dimitrov | Kei Nishikori | 6–2, 2–6, 6–3 |
| 2018 | Nick Kyrgios | Ryan Harrison | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 2019 | Kei Nishikori | Daniil Medvedev | 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 |
| 2020–2023 | Not held (ATP event suspended) | ||
| 2024 | Grigor Dimitrov | Holger Rune | 7–6^(7–5), 6–4 |
| 2025 | Jiří Lehečka | Reilly Opelka | 4–1 (ret.) |
Past Brisbane International Champions in the 2026 Field
Grigor Dimitrov — Champion in 2017 and 2024
One of the most reliable early-season performers on tour, Dimitrov has repeatedly shown his game translates immediately to Brisbane’s fast conditions.
Jiří Lehečka — Champion in 2025
The defending champion returns after capturing his first Brisbane title last season, underlining his growing comfort on quick hard courts.
Nick Kyrgios — Champion in 2018
Nick Kyrgios has received a wild card into the Brisbane International. I don’t expect anything from him and neither should you.
Key Brisbane International Storylines
Grigor Dimitrov returns from a long injury layoff
Grigor Dimitrov enters Brisbane after an extended absence with a pectoral injury, raising immediate questions about match fitness in Brisbane’s demanding heat. His two prior titles here give him credibility, but early rounds will test just how fit the big-serving Bulgarian actually is.
Jiří Lehečka carries defending-champion pressure
Jiri Lehečka returns as the 2025 champion, no longer flying under the radar. Brisbane often asks title holders to back it up immediately on fast courts, where opponents swing freely. The market tends to respect recent champions early; whether that premium holds under pressure is a key angle.
Daniil Medvedev and early-season volatility
Daniil Medvedev’s hard-court résumé is unquestioned, but he’s coming off a regrettable 2025 campaign more filled with arguments with chair umpires and tournament officials than with match wins.
Valentin Vacherot — can he replicate his late-season success?
Vacherot quietly surged late in the year, and his ranking rose to a career-high No. 30 in late November. We’re about to find out if his impressive 2025 ending was a fluke or the promise of something truly special.
Brisbane International Favorites & Players to Watch
Title Contenders
- Daniil Medvedev
The clear class of the field on paper. The question in Brisbane concerns his temper and motivation. - Tommy Paul
Tommy Paul’s 2025 season began with a bang, but injuries caused him to miss the entire clay and grass court seasons, and ended with his third-round US Open loss to Alexander Bublik. - Jiří Lehečka
Defending champions always command attention, but he’s another who had a fast start and dealt with a slew of injuries that slowed his career trajectory.
Upset-Capable Profiles
- Denis Shapovalov
Shapovalov won bettors around $650 as the underdog in 2025. His aggressiveness makes him a dangerous floater in this field. - Ugo Humbert
Humbert is talented, and he did win bettors nearly $500 as the dog, but I would not bet on him as a favorite. - Sebastian Korda
Korda is tough here when healthy. The problem is he’s rarely ever healthy, but he did win bettors $260 when listed as the underdog.
Top Five Betting Upsets – Brisbane 2025
- Reilly Opelka def. Novak Djokovic — Quarterfinals
Avg Odds: ~+896 (~9.96 decimal)
A massive shock — Opelka’s serving dominance in fast conditions flipped this matchup and delivered one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. - Jiří Lehečka def. Grigor Dimitrov — Semifinals
Avg Odds: ~+152 (~2.52 decimal)
Lehečka’s power game prevailed over a veteran favorite in a key late-round tussle. - Nicolás Jarry def. Benjamin Bonzi — Second Round
Avg Odds: ~+152 (~2.52 decimal)
Jarry’s serve and aggression carried him through as a live dog against a higher seed. - Jordan Thompson def. Matteo Berrettini — First Round
Avg Odds: ~+148 (~2.48 decimal)
A smart, aggressive performance from Thompson capitalized on Berrettini’s slow start. - Reilly Opelka def. Matteo Arnaldi — Second Round
Avg Odds: ~+146 (~2.46 decimal)
A second upset from Opelka, underscoring how serve-first players can overperform early-season pricing.
Favorite vs Underdog ROI by Round — Brisbane 2025 (WTA 500)
Closing odds · $100 flat stake · Avg closing prices
| Round | Matches | Favorite ROI | Underdog ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Round | 16 | -5.0% | -29.7% |
| 2nd Round | 8 | -17.5% | -11.4% |
| Quarterfinals | 4 | +12.5% | +149.0% |
| Semifinals | 2 | -100.0% | +136.5% |
| Final | 1 | +69.0% | -100.0% |
Key takeaways
- Early rounds punished both sides, but favorites were less bad than underdogs — market uncertainty + rust mattered.
- Quarterfinals and semifinals heavily favored underdogs, driven by serve-first profiles and matchup volatility once the field condensed.
- Finals still reward class, with favorites delivering strong ROI when only one match remains, and talent gaps sharpen.
What This Means for Brisbane 2026?
Betting on favorites only in Brisbane is a recipe for disaster.
The biggest takeaway heading into Brisbane International 2026 ATP 250 is that the gambler’s willingness to not only find, but wager on plus-money underdogs is the way to bet this event.
Whoever wins Brisbane will need to serve big and be willing to take control of the point early. Big servers and aggressive ball-strikers don’t need extended rallies to flip a match; they only need a few dominant service games and one return break, which Brisbane conditions routinely allow.
For 2026 bettors, the angle is clear: fade reputation early, trust weapons over ranking, and don’t blindly follow seeds once the draw tightens. Brisbane doesn’t reward patience — it rewards players who arrive fit, can impose their will quickly, survive the heat, and swing without hesitation.
📚 Further Reading
- Brisbane International 2026 Preview: WTA 500 Field, Champions, and Odds Insights
A full breakdown of the women’s event, including past champions, surface-specific trends, and betting market inefficiencies. - Australian Open 2026 Men’s Contenders
A broader look at which players are realistically positioned to contend in Melbourne, and how early-season hard-court results often foreshadow Australian Open success. - ATP Hard-Court Betting Trends (2024–2025)
A data-driven look at favorite vs underdog performance across fast hard-court events, with actionable takeaways for early-season tournaments.
