Match Details
Fixture: (3) Elena Rybakina vs (11) Karolina Muchova
Date: January 9, 2026
Tournament: Brisbane International
Round: Quarterfinal
Category: WTA 500
Venue: Queensland Tennis Centre, Brisbane, Australia
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $1,206,446
Live Telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | UK – Sky Sports | Canada – TSN+
Elena Rybakina vs Karolina Muchova Preview
Third seed Elena Rybakina will lock horns with Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International 2026.
After a first-round bye, Rybakina kicked off her run in Brisbane with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Zhang Shuai. She was up against 15th seed Paula Badosa in the third round. The Kazakh was off to a slow start, and went down a break at the start of the first set.
Rybakina swiftly flipped the script, bagging six of the next seven games to clinch the set. She dictated the play right from the start of the second set. She broke Badosa’s serve twice in it to score a 6-3, 6-2 win.
Muchova also received a bye into the second round. She rallied from a set down to beat home hope Ajla Tomljanovic 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5) to set up a third-round date with seventh seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. The match started with four consecutive breaks of serve.
Both players eventually found their footing. Muchova gained the upper hand in the end to claim the opening set. They were evenly matched for most of the second set until the Czech upped the ante. She swept the last three games of the contest to register a 6-4, 7-5 win.
Elena Rybakina vs Karolina Muchova Head-to-Head
Their rivalry is tied at 1-1. Rybakina won their previous encounter at the Indian Wells Open 2023 in three sets.
Elena Rybakina vs Karolina Muchova Odds
| Player | Moneyline | Handicap Bets | Total Games |
| Elena Rybakina | -450 | +1.5 (-1600) | Over 20.5 (-120) |
| Karolina Muchova | +320 | -1.5 (+575) | Under 20.5 (-115) |
(Odds via BetMGM)
Elena Rybakina vs Karolina Muchova Prediction
Aside from a small misstep at the start of the match, Rybakina didn’t miss a beat for the rest of her contest against Badosa. After a tough outing against Tomljanovic, Muchova got the job done in straight sets against Alexandrova.
Rybakina extended her unbeaten run to 13 matches with her latest win, equaling her previous best streak which she set in 2023. She also beat Muchova in three sets en route to the Indian Wells title during that period, which was also the last time they crossed paths.
Muchova’s variety and crafty style of play often drives big-hitters like Rybakina up the wall. However, the latter’s purple patch shows no signs of receding, thus making her the favorite to win this contest.
Pick: Elena Rybakina to win in straight sets.
Elena Rybakina vs Karolina Muchova Betting Tips
Tip 1: Elena Rybakina to win.
Tip 2: The match will have at least 20 games.
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