Episode 2 of The Big T podcast combined listener questions, new segments and candid conversation. Danielle Collins made an in-studio debut alongside Coco Vandeweghe, and the panel tackled topics ranging from player pet peeves to the Australian Open’s one-point event.

On the court, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka reminded everyone why she sits atop the rankings. The 27-year-old, four-time Grand Slam champion romped through the Brisbane draw, with no opponent pushing her past 6-4 in any set. The opening week also highlighted a scheduling quirk: all of the WTA’s Top 24 competed while four of the ATP’s Top 8 skipped the first week. Brad Gilbert, with Vandeweghe and Collins, offered a reason: “Most of the top women are much more active to start the year because you guys have 500 [level] tournaments.”

January’s calendar places Brisbane and Adelaide as WTA 500 events while the simultaneous ATP tournaments are at the 250 level. Later in the swing, Doha and Dubai are 1000 level for the women and 500 for the men, which gives the WTA more time in the spotlight early in the season.

Poland won the United Cup, but world No. 2 Iga Swiatek struggled, losing to Coco Gauff in straight sets and then to Belinda Bencic in three, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3. Vandeweghe noted the toll January competition can take: “Coming into January, you’re supposed to be refreshed… And you’re already mentally frazzled.”

The episode also discussed the Australian Open’s 1 Point Slam, where recreational players could win large sums for scoring a single point against a pro. “I think if you have a big serve,” advised Gilbert, “go for big serve on first and second.” Vandeweghe observed that the format could tighten pros, and several stars failed to land their lone serve in the box.

A new segment, High-Percentage Tennis, produced spirited debate, including questions about coaching and speculation about future matches. “Will Juan Carlos coach a woman? No chance, there’s zero chance,” said Vandeweghe. Collins replied, “I’m gonna call him right now, let’s see if he wants to work with Danielle Collins. You think he can handle me?”

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World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka captured the first title of her 2026 season with a straight-sets victory over Marta Kostyuk, 6-4, 6-3, to win the WTA 500 event in Brisbane. Sabalenka, who also won the tournament last year, did not lose a set all week and did not concede more than four games in any set en route to the trophy.

Kostyuk reached the final after an impressive run in which she took out three Top 10 players in a row—No. 3 Amanda Anisimova, No. 9 Mirra Andreeva and No. 6 Jessica Pegula—in straight sets. In the championship match the two traded early breaks, but Sabalenka broke again to close the first set, secured an early break in the second and held serve from there to finish the match.

The triumph in Brisbane is the 22nd WTA title of Sabalenka’s career and marks the fifth tournament she’s won multiple times, alongside the Australian Open and US Open (twice each) and Madrid and Wuhan (three times each). It also extended her recent supremacy in Australia: she has now won five of the last seven events she has played there and 38 of her last 40 matches in the country.

SABALENKA IN AUSTRALIA SINCE START OF 2023: 38-2. The only two defeats in that stretch were to Elena Rybakina in the 2024 Brisbane final and to Madison Keys in the 2025 Australian Open final.

After a planned week off from tournaments, Sabalenka will head to the Australian Open as the favorite for the title. The Brisbane victory reinforces her form and provides momentum as she prepares for the Grand Slam start to the season.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka reached the Brisbane International final for the third consecutive year with a 6-3, 6-4 victory Saturday over Karolina Muchová.

Sabalenka closed out the semifinal at Pat Rafter Arena on her fourth match point, surviving a late surge from the Czech player and moving on to Sunday’s final against the winner of a later semifinal between fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula and Marta Kostyuk.

Earlier in the week, Sabalenka produced a rematch of last year’s Australian Open final, breaking Madison Keys in five straight service games on the way to a 6-3, 6-3 win on Friday. Last year at Melbourne Park, Keys beat Sabalenka for her first Grand Slam singles title.

Despite seeing three match points slip away amid Muchová’s late pressure, Sabalenka sealed the result when a Muchová shot sailed long. She finished the match with 32 winners and saved all four break points she faced.

“I always try to stay in the present,” Sabalenka said. “I worked really hard and each match against her is just another opportunity to get the win and I’m super happy that today was the day when I was able to get the win. She is such a great player and I always enjoy battles against her.”

The Brisbane International serves as a tuneup event for the Australian Open, which begins Jan. 18. Sabalenka will aim to carry the momentum from this semifinal into Sunday as she competes for her 13th WTA 500-level final.