Canada’s Shapovalov, Fernandez open 2026 with straight-set losses in Brisbane
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BRISBANE – After a 2025 season marked by a climb up the world rankings and two ATP titles, Canadian Denis Shapovalov opened 2026 with a loss Tuesday.
The 23rd-ranked Shapovalov, of Richmond Hill, Ont., fell in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, to Belgium’s Raphaël Collignon in the first round of the Brisbane International.
Shapovalov, who dropped as low as 140th in 2024 after a knee injury, was the sixth seed at the ATP 250 hard-court event, while Collignon came through qualifying.
It was the first meeting between the two players.
Shapovalov landed 54 per cent of his first serves, hit three aces and committed three double faults, while giving Collignon 12 breakpoint chances, three of which he converted.
Leylah Fernandez, of Laval, Que., seeded 13th in Brisbane, dropped her first match of 2026 on Tuesday against Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska in 61 minutes.
The unseeded Ukrainian won 6-1, 6-2 as Fernandez have seven double faults, no aces and only got 57 per cent of her first serves in play and only won three of seven service games in the quick match.
Yastremska had one ace, no double faults and got 80 per cent of her points off first serve. She won all her service games and four of seven return games.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 6, 2026.