Canada’s Shapovalov loses in straight sets in Brisbane to start 2026 campaign

After a 2025 season marked by a climb in the world rankings and two ATP titles, Canadian Denis Shapovalov opened 2026 with a loss on Tuesday.

Shapovalov, ranked 23rd from Richmond Hill, Ont., lost in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 to Belgium’s Raphael Collignon in the first round of the Brisbane International.

Shapovalov, who is down to No. 140 in 2024 due to a knee injury, is the sixth seed in the ATP 250 hard-court event, while Collignon advanced through qualifying.

This is the first meeting between the two players.

Shapovalov’s first serve hit rate was as high as 54%, hitting 3 aces and committing 3 double faults. At the same time, he brought 12 break opportunities to Collignon, 3 of which were resolved by him.

Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., is scheduled to play her first match of 2026 on Tuesday against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska. Fernandez is seeded 13th in Brisbane.