Clara Tauson experienced a disappointing start to her 2026 season, suffering a defeat in the second round of the WTA tournament in Brisbane. The Danish player, currently ranked 14th in the world, faced the 113th-ranked Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Despite her strong pre-tournament standing, Tauson struggled to find her rhythm and ultimately lost the match with scores of 6-2, 6-3.
Tauson entered the match as the favorite against Sasnovich, who had made her way into the main draw through qualifying rounds. However, it was the Belarusian who seized the early initiative, breaking Tauson’s serve in the first game and building an early 4-1 lead. Despite fighting back and saving three set points while trailing 1-5, Tauson was unable to prevent Sasnovich from clinching the first set.
In the second set, both players held their serves until 3-3, offering a glimmer of hope for a Danish resurgence. Tauson even had a break point that could have shifted momentum in her favor, but she was unable to convert the opportunity. The match came to a swift conclusion as Sasnovich surged ahead, winning the last eight points and securing her place in the next round.
Tauson’s opening match in 2026 starkly contrasts with her performance at the beginning of last year when she clinched a tournament victory in New Zealand. The Brisbane tournament is the first of two events for Tauson in Australia, as she prepares for the upcoming Australian Open in Melbourne later this month.
Next week, she will have another chance to turn her fortunes around as she competes in the WTA tournament in Adelaide. Despite this setback, Tauson remains a talented player with the potential to rebound and improve as the season progresses.