Since 2009, every champion of the Brisbane tournament has ended up disappointed at the Australian Open.

As everyone knows, the Australian Open kicks off the Grand Slam season each year. To ensure players are in good shape for it, a few preparatory tournaments are organized before the event. Starting from 2009, players who won the Brisbane International before the Australian Open have consistently suffered losses at the Australian Open. Today, this article will take you through their performances.

In 2009, Belarusian player Azarenka claimed her first career tour title at the Brisbane International. However, at the Australian Open, she lost the first set against American Serena Williams in the fourth round. Although Azarenka fought back in the second set and was close to winning it, she had to retire due to injury. Nevertheless, she went on to win the Australian Open titles in 2012 and 2013.

In 2010, Belgian player Kim Clijsters won her first tour title of the season at Brisbane. Yet, at the Australian Open, she was defeated soundly in the third round by Russian Petrova, managing to win only one game. Despite this loss, Clijsters successfully defended her US Open title that year and also captured the Australian Open crown in 2011.

In 2011, Czech player Petra Kvitová triumphed in Brisbane and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Unfortunately, she was swept aside by Russian Zvonareva in the quarters. Still, Kvitová claimed the Wimbledon title that year, becoming the first Grand Slam champion born in the 1990s.

In 2012, Estonian player Kaia Kanepi won the Brisbane International. However, she was defeated in straight sets by Russian Makarova in the second round of the Australian Open and could not progress further. That same year, Kanepi also won the Estoril Open in late April.

American Serena Williams won the Brisbane International in both 2013 and 2014, becoming the first player since 2009 to successfully defend the title. Nevertheless, she was not immune to the so-called curse. In 2013, she was stopped in the Australian Open quarterfinals; in 2014, she exited in the round of 16.

Russian player Maria Sharapova claimed the Brisbane International title in 2015 and made a strong run to the Australian Open final. However, just when many thought the curse was broken, she lost to Serena Williams in the final, marking the closest any Brisbane champion has come to winning the Australian Open since 2009.

Over the past decade, players such as Azarenka, Czech Pliskova, Ukrainian Svitolina, Kazakhstani Rybakina, and Belarusian Sabalenka have all won the Brisbane International, yet none have secured the Australian Open title in the same year. Just last Saturday, Sabalenka, who won this year's Brisbane International, lost to Rybakina in the Australian Open final.

Nearly twenty years have passed, and the Brisbane curse still persists. Who do you think will be the first player to break this Brisbane jinx? Does Sabalenka still have a chance? That’s the tennis story for today; more to come tomorrow.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Yixin Jushi)