The 2026 tennis season is now underway Down Under with the ATP Brisbane International offering players a vital opportunity to prepare for the Australian Open. As ever, we here at LWOT preview and predict every match on the slate, but who will book their spot in the second round?
ATP Brisbane Day 2 Predictions
Reilly Opelka vs Dane Sweeny
Head-to-head: first meeting
Reilly Opelka will be looking to make a fast start in Brisbane as he looks to defend the points he accrued with his final appearance in 2025. The American takes on local qualifier Dane Sweeny to get his 2026 campaign underway. The courts at Brisbane tend to play a little faster so that should work to the advantage of Opelka who will no doubt serve lights out. Expect an easy win for Opelka.
Prediction: Opelka in 2
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Daniel Altmaier vs Matteo Arnaldi
Head-to-head: Arnaldi 1-0 Altmaier
Daniel Altmaier will open his 2026 season against Matteo Arnaldi. These two have faced each other once before in Washington last year which Arnaldi won in three sets. Arnaldi is participating as the lucky loser after pulling out in qualifying which effectively makes this a free hit for the Italian. Expect a tight battle between the two but Arnaldi looks to be better suited to hard court tennis. He should have just about enough to get past Arnaldi.
Prediction: Arnaldi in 3
Quentin Halys vs Alexei Popyrin
Head-to-head: Halys 2-0 Popyrin
Quentin Halys and Alexei Popyrin both had a sub par 2025 season. Halys has done well to come through qualifying this week but it will not be easy beating Popyrin in front of the Australian crowd. Popyrin has lost on both occasions to Halys but he has generally played his best tennis in front of his home crowd. Halys also has a good record in Australia, but expect Popyrin to just edge this one.
Prediction: Popyrin in 3
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Jiri Lehecka vs Tomas Machac
Head-to-head: first meeting
This should be a very interesting battle of the Czechs with Jiri Lehecka seeded third at the ATP Brisbane Open and he facing off against fellow countryman Tomas Machac. Lehecka is a solid base line player but so is Machac. Expect long baseline rallies between these two but judging by how they fared in 2025, Lehecka looks to be in better touch and expect the younger Czech to move ahead.
Prediction: Lehecka in 3
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
