If Félix Auger-Aliassime and Victoria Mboko’s New Year’s resolution was to get their hands on more silverware in 2026, they’re certainly on the right track after the first weekend of the fresh season.
The Canadian No. 1s – who combined for five titles in 2025 – got Team Canada off to a perfect start at the United Cup in Sydney, while, just north of their compatriots, Denis Shapovalov and Leylah Annie Fernandez are set to begin their year in Brisbane.
The first Monday Digest of 2026 has everything you need to know.
In Case You Missed It: Auger-Aliassime, Mboko Power Canada to China Sweep at United Cup
Mboko’s first set of the new year didn’t quite go as planned as the Torontonian opened Canada’s 2026 United Cup campaign in Sydney against Zhu Lin of China.
The world No. 18 dropped the opening set 6-2 but that was the only bit of trouble she, and her teammate Auger-Aliassime, faced throughout the remainder of the tie. Mboko took the next two sets in just over an hour, conceding just two games over that span to seal the match 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 and give Canada the 1-0 advantage.
Auger-Aliassime later cruised to a straight-sets win over Zhizhen Zhang to clinch the tie, then returned to the court alongside Mboko for mixed doubles where the Canadian No. 1s secured the nation’s first sweep at the United Cup with a 6-1, 6-3 victory.
On Monday night, Canada rounds out group play against the 0-1 Belgians, led by world No. 42 Zizou Bergs and world No. 19 Elise Mertens. The Canucks will book their ticket into the quarter-finals if they avoid a 0-3 loss.
What to Watch: Shapovalov, Fernandez Ring in New Season in Brisbane
At the ATP 250 Brisbane, Shapovalov joins in on the Canadian-Belgian festivities as he opens his 2026 account.
The No. 5 seed faces world No. 84 Raphael Collignon in the first round on Monday night and will meet Grigor Dimitrov or Pablo Carreno Busta in the last 16, if the Richmond Hillian is able to begin the new year with a win.
Shapovalov is joined by fellow Canadian Fernandez in Brisbane. After a first-round bye, the Lavalloise’s opening match of the WTA 500 event comes against world No. 27 Dayana Yastremska, following the Ukrainian’s straight-sets win in round one on Monday. Fernandez's second-round match will take place either Tuesday night or Wednesday early morning.
Read also: This Week in Tennis - Canada Off to Strong Start at United Cup
Gabriel Diallo decided to take a different flight to begin the season. The Montrealer enters the ATP 250 Hong Kong as the sixth seed, battling Dutchman Jesper de Jong in the first round on Tuesday early morning. Diallo has the potential to play his Hong Kong doubles partner Coleman Wong in round two – the duo was victorious in their opening match in doubles – then top seed Lorenzo Musetti in the quarters.
Feature Photo: United Cup
