Rising Stars Claim Australian Open Main Draw Spots
Under Melbourne’s January sun, a fresh crop of talents battled through qualifying’s crucible, turning Next Gen promise into Grand Slam reality with grit and tactical poise.
On a sticky Thursday at Melbourne Park, January 15, 2026, the final rounds of Australian Open qualifying delivered breakthroughs for the sport’s hungry upstarts. Norway’s Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, America’s Nishesh Basavareddy, Spain’s Rafael Jodar, and Japan’s 19-year-old Rei Sakamoto—all carrying the edge from the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals—secured their places in the 2026 Australian Open main draw. These wins, forged in the heat and pressure of outdoor hard courts, blended raw ambition with sharp adjustments, setting the stage for early-round intrigue against the tour’s established names.
“We’re setting the bar good for the next generation,” said Budkov Kjaer, who will join Jeddah champion Learner Tien in the main draw. “I saw that four out of the eight that played Next Gen are through to the main draw. It’s great to see us youngsters doing big stuff on the biggest stages. We are maybe a bit more hungry than the older ones, but it’s great to see your friends doing well.”
Norwegian leans on mentorship for debut win
Budkov Kjaer, viewing fellow Norwegian Casper Ruud as a “big brother figure,” dispatched Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2, 6-3 to claim his first Grand Slam main-draw berth. His heavy topspin forehand dominated rallies, firing inside-out shots that exploited Herbert’s weaker side and kept points short on the bouncy Plexicushion surface. After a 2025 season capped by four ATP Challenger titles and a Jeddah semifinal, this straight-sets victory released the tension of a year spent climbing ranks, channeling Ruud’s guidance into composed baseline exchanges.
The 20-year-old’s approach emphasized depth and angles, turning potential defensive scrambles into offensive surges that pinned his opponent deep. Melbourne’s crowd murmured approval as Budkov Kjaer’s consistency wore down Herbert’s serve-volley attempts, a tactical nod to the faster conditions. Now eyeing the main draw, his hunger positions him to test veterans who overlook the qualifier’s fire.
Spaniard and Japanese teen seize surface edges
Rafael Jodar, who turned professional in December after two years at the University of Virginia, earned his Grand Slam debut by outlasting Luca Van Assche 6-3, 0-6, 6-1. In the decider, Jodar’s underspin backhand slowed the tempo, disrupting Van Assche’s power and forcing errors on crosscourt returns during extended rallies. The match’s swings mirrored his transition from college courts to pro circuits, building mental resilience amid the qualifying grind.
Rei Sakamoto, the 2024 Australian Open boys’ champion, advanced without dropping a set, his serve gaining extra bite from the court’s higher bounce to launch effective 1–2 patterns. “In preseason, I made qualifying for the main draw a goal, so it feels good,” Sakamoto said. “I think the surface suits me pretty well. I like my serve to bounce higher and have an advantage with the serve, it makes it easier to build. I like the crowd and environment here, it makes me feel comfortable.”
At 19, Sakamoto’s flat groundstrokes and down-the-line serves minimized unforced errors, blending junior poise with emerging pro instincts under the watchful Melbourne eyes. The local energy amplified his comfort, turning preseason targets into tangible momentum as he steps into best-of-five battles.
American grit and local resolve round out advances
Nishesh Basavareddy, 20 and now coached by Gilles Cervara—previously with Daniil Medvedev—rallied past George Loffhagen 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 after saving two match points against Sebastian Ofner earlier. His crosscourt forehands reclaimed control in the third set, varying serves with kickers to the body that neutralized Loffhagen’s inside-in attempts on the lively hard courts. This marks his third straight Grand Slam main draw, a testament to endurance honed through a season of ups and downs.
Dane Sweeny stood as the sole Australian qualifier, edging Stefano Travaglia 7-6(6), 7-6(3) for his first major appearance since the 2024 Australian Open. Low slices in tiebreaks kept points unpredictable, drawing on home-crowd roars to hold serve in clutch moments against Travaglia’s heavier swings. Meanwhile, Alexander Blockx’s seven-match streak from his Canberra Challenger win and Jeddah final ended with a third-set retirement against Jason Kubler due to a back injury.
View all of Thursday’s results from Melbourne Park here. These qualifiers, weaving tactical smarts with emotional release, inject fresh narratives into the main draw—where Sakamoto’s serve, Budkov Kjaer’s topspin, and Basavareddy’s comebacks could spark the upsets that define Melbourne’s early chaos.
