Match Details
Fixture: Aryna Sabalenka vs Sorana Cristea
Date: January 7, 2026
Tournament: Brisbane International
Round: Second round (Round of 16)
Category: WTA 500
Venue: Queensland Tennis Centre, Brisbane, Australia
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $680,140
Live Telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | UK- Sky Sports | Canada – TSN
Aryna Sabalenka vs Sorana Cristea Preview
The top seed, Aryna Sabalenka, will meet Sorana Cristea in the Round of 16 of the Brisbane International 2026.
Sabalenka had a remarkable 2025 season. Starting her year with a notable win at the Brisbane International against Polina Kudermetova, reaching the final of the Australian Open, and winning the US Open, she proved her prowess throughout the year. The 2025 majors witnessed a stunning performance from the Belarusian, as she reached the finals and semi-finals of all four of them.
She won four titles last season, including the Brisbane International, Miami Open, Madrid Open, and the US Open. She capped off her season by competing at the WTA Finals, where she reached the finals; however, she fell short of claiming victory against Elena Rybakina. She ended the 2025 season ranked World No. 1.
Sabalenka has opened her 2026 season with the same spirit at the Brisbane International. She faced off against Cristina Bucsa in the Round of 32 and advanced to the Round of 16 to compete against Cristea.
The Romanian tennis player is currently ranked World No. 43 and finished her 2025 season at the same position. She won her first singles title since 2021 last season at the Tennis in the Land in Cleveland. She also reached the semi-final and final of several tournaments and has now started her 2026 season at the Brisbane International.
She competed against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Jelena Ostapenko in the Round of 64 and Round of 32, respectively, to advance to the Round of 16.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Sorana Cristea Head-to-Head
Sabalenka and Cristea have met each other twice on the court. Their first encounter at the 2023 Miami Open was won by the Romanian player, and the victory in their second encounter in the fourth round of the 2023 US Open was claimed by the World No. 1. Their rivalry stands at 1-1.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Sorana Cristea Odds
| Player | Moneyline | Handicap Bets | Total Games |
| Aryna Sabalenka | |||
| Sorana Cristea |
(odds to be updated)
Aryna Sabalenka vs Sorana Cristea Prediction
Aryna Sabalenka has been in the top two for the last three years. She earned the World No. 1 singles ranking for the first time in 2023 and ended the year ranked No. 2. She continued her dominance as he capped off both the 2024 and 2025 seasons ranked World No. 1. She is expected to maintain her momentum in the 2026 season. The Belarusian has won 21 WTA Tour singles titles in her career, including four Grand Slams.
Her opponent, Cristea, on the other hand, has won three WTA singles titles and has won no Grand Slam titles. The duo is all set to meet for the third time on the court, and the World No.1 is seemingly the favorite, considering her statistics and rankings.
Pick: Aryna Sabalenka to win in straight sets.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Sorana Cristea Betting Tips
Tip 1: Aryna Sabalenka to win.
Tip 2: Sabalenka wins the match in straight sets.
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