Start of the 2026 Tennis Season
Sisters Lyudmyla and Nadiia Kichenok will kick off the 2026 tennis season with a joint appearance at the WTA 500 tournament in Brisbane, which will take place from January 4 to 11. This will be the sisters' first appearance in doubles tennis since their last joint match that took place in May 2023 at the tournament in Strasbourg.
Lyudmyla Kichenok has positive experience participating in this tournament, as she was the champion of Brisbane in 2024. The sisters' return to doubles tennis is generating interest among fans, as their tandem has already established itself on the international stage.
Participation of Ukrainian Tennis Players in the Australian Open
It is worth noting that in preparation for the season, four Ukrainian tennis players have made it to the main draw of the Australian Open. Among them:
- Elina Svitolina (No. 14 WTA)
- Marta Kostyuk (No. 26 WTA)
- Dayana Yastremska (No. 27 WTA)
- Oleksandra Oliynykova (No. 96 WTA)
Oliynykova will make her debut in the main draw of the 'major' and will visit Australia for the first time, adding yet another interesting detail to the start of the new tennis season.
The return of the Kichenok sisters to doubles tennis and the participation of Ukrainian tennis players in the Australian Open highlight the growing interest in Ukrainian tennis on the international stage. In particular, the participation of Oliynykova in the main draw of the 'major' indicates new prospects for young talents. These events may contribute to the increasing popularity of tennis in Ukraine and attract new fans to the sport.