Key Highlights
- Francisco Cabral and Lucas Miedler won the Brisbane tournament in a dramatic final.
- Cabral improved his ranking to 19th in the ATP doubles world rankings.
- Jaime Faria and Henrique Rocha secured their spots in the main draw of the Australian Open through qualifying matches.
Francisco Cabral’s Triumph in Brisbane
After wrapping up 2025 with an ATP title and reaching his highest ranking, Francisco Cabral has started the new year on a high note. Partnering with Lucas Miedler, Cabral won the Brisbane tournament, securing their second doubles title together.
A Dramatic Final
In the ATP 250 final, Cabral and Miedler faced off against Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash, who were ranked number one in the world and defending champions of Wimbledon. The match was a thrilling rollercoaster, with the Portuguese duo prevailing in three sets: 6-3, 3-6, and 10-8. This victory came after 85 minutes of intense competition.
Francisco Cabral’s Comments
Cabral expressed his satisfaction post-match, acknowledging the strength of their opponents:
“Estou mesmo muito feliz. Julian, Lloyd, vocês foram os melhores do mundo no ano passado, continuam número um. Jogam de forma incrível, tornam tudo muito, muito difícil para nós e para todos no circuito.
São a equipa a bater, por isso estamos realmente muito felizes.”
He also credited his team and coach Luís Faria for their support:
“Temos feito um grande trabalho nos últimos 10, 11 meses. Este título dá-nos ainda mais motivação para conquistar coisas maiores este ano.”
Tennis in Australia: Preparations for the Grand Slams
Cabral’s success comes as he and his team prepare to compete in the upcoming Australian Open. Both Faria (ranked 151st) and Rocha (ranked 157th ATP) successfully qualified from the first round of the main draw, with Faria defeating Luka Mikrut in a closely contested match. Rocha’s victory over João Reis da Silva was equally impressive, securing his spot in the second round.
Future Prospects
Cabral expressed ambition for the upcoming tournaments, particularly at the Masters 1000 and Grand Slams:
“É claro que queremos continuar a trabalhar, continuar a ganhar jogos e continuar a jogar melhor nos torneios maiores. Este será o nosso primeiro ano a jogar todos os Masters 1000 e com expectativas um pouco mais elevadas nos Grand Slams, por isso esperamos ter um bom desempenho lá e, com sorte, no final do ano, tentaremos estar em Turim pela primeira vez.”
These performances and rankings highlight Cabral’s growing prominence in the tennis world as he gears up for one of the most prestigious events on the calendar.
Beyond Cabral: Other Portuguese Players
In related news, Nuno Borges is also competing at the ATP 250 in Hong Kong. Despite facing strong opposition from top-ranked players like Damir Dzumhur and Marin Cilic, he managed to reach the quarter-finals before being defeated by Andrey Rublev.
As the Australian Open looms on the horizon, these early victories provide a promising start for Portuguese tennis. With Cabral leading the charge, there is optimism that this could be another strong year for the nation’s players in the global tennis arena.