In February 2025, Elias Ymer plummeted to as low as world No.332. A significant distance from his career-high ranking of world No.105 set in June 2018, the Swede knew something had to change within his game to reach that level again.
MORE: All the scores from qualifying at AO 2026
The hiring of a new fitness coach helped, but a new mantra changed the 29-year-old’s outlook. As he showed at a packed ANZ Arena on Thursday, the text ‘Luke 1:37’ on his tennis bag following his third-round qualifying win over Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong, the secret behind his rise became clear.
MORE: AO 2026 men's qualifying singles draw
It references the bible verse “for with God, nothing shall be impossible”. With his five-year Australian Open main-draw drought broken on Thursday afternoon, Ymer proved that with belief, anything is possible.
“I don’t believe in limits, and with God, you can do anything,” he explained. “It’s been about my belief to keep my faith. It helps me keep going every day.
“Whenever I don’t feel anything, sometimes I have some big goals, but I keep telling myself, it’s possible.”
After moving to Italy, it was the advice from a friend last July to listen to bible verses where the inspiration stemmed from.
“While I was in my apartment alone, I got advice from a friend in Washington. He told me to listen to bible verses when I was alone in my room, and that kind of helped me. The Bible verses kept me calm,” he said.
“Once I heard it in my Spotify playlist, it just stuck with me. When you have a revolution in your life, anything is really possible. But since that day last year in July, things have really turned for me.”
Australian Open 2026 will mark Ymer’s first main-draw appearance at Melbourne Park since 2021, and his first main-draw at a major since Wimbledon 2024. Ymer overcame an early break from Wong to claim a 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3 victory, crediting the crowd for his clutch performance.
“It was amazing, maybe the biggest crowd I’ve ever had in qualifying,” he said. “It’s different tennis. This is what I play tennis for, to play on these courts. I always have good performances on these courts.
“I’m going to speak to [tournament director] Craig [Tiley] to try and get me on the courts with the best crowds … I think I would be way more dangerous if I get on those courts.”
Fery special: Brit breaks new ground
Great Britain’s Arthur Fery knows how to handle high-pressure situations.
His three seasons spent at the University of Stanford, as well as multiple Wimbledon campaigns, provided the 23-year-old with the tools required to cope with the unfamiliarity of competing in the final round of qualifying at an international Grand Slam. See his victory as world No.461 against world No.20 Alexei Popyrin at Wimbledon 2025 as a case in point.
Having previously not had the ranking to challenge at majors outside of his homeland – with a persistent arm injury likened to compatriot Jack Draper’s being the antagonist – Fery received entry into Australian Open 2026 qualifying after a strong finish to the 2025 season.
Faced with an opportunity to qualify for the main draw at Melbourne Park against ATP Next Gen Finalist Dino Prizmic on Thursday, a match where most people would have viewed him as the underdog, Fery pounced. He fired 29 winners to 13 in the 6-4 6-1 triumph to advance, a triumph that only reassured Fery that he belonged at the level.
“[This match] just reinforces what I've thought and believed in,” he said.
“I've been injured a lot in the past two and a half years, and it was really tough because I felt like my ranking did not reflect at all the player I was.
“Obviously, in some way, it's a little bit surprising to have done that well in the past six months and now qualifying here. So, a great achievement for me. But also, I'm always very confident about how I play, and I just have to deliver on the court, which is not always easy.”
Australian Open 2026 marks the first Grand Slam Fery has qualified for, receiving wildcards in each of his previous three major main-draw appearances, an achievement that sticks out to the youngster.
“[It’s] really satisfying. I was already very pleased end of last year when I qualified for [AO qualifying] on my own,” he said.
“It was a big milestone for me to play Slams on my own ranking and obviously now having qualified, it's really great. It brings a lot of joy to me and pride. I'm going to try to keep it going.”