The seven-year wait for Omar Jasika to return to a Grand Slam main draw is over.
Jasika recovered to defeat world No.190 Abedallah Shelbayh in the final round of Australian Open qualifying, losing the first set in 31 minutes before posting a 2-6 6-1 6-2 victory.
Fellow Australian Dane Sweeny also secured a spot in the main draw after outlasting No.22 seed Zizou Bergs.
Later on Friday, Storm Hunter qualified for the main draw of the women’s singles – the first reigning doubles world No.1 to qualify for a Grand Slam in singles since 2006.
Jasika and Sweeny boost the number of Aussies in this year's AO men's singles main draw to 15 – the most since 1998.
Returning to the main draw of his home Grand Slam for the first time since 2017 provided the perfect end to Jasika’s week of quality tennis.
“There are no words that can describe my feeling right now,” he said. “(It’s) mixed emotions to be honest. Super excited, kind of scratching my head wondering what’s going on.
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“It’s been a few years since I’ve been back playing in front of my friends and family. I’ve played three good matches, so I feel like I’ve deserved my spot in the main draw.”
Sweeny, meanwhile, turned his long-held dream of contesting a Grand Slam main draw into reality.
“For it to go from something in my imagination to a reality is quite surreal at the moment but I do think I’ve been playing the tennis that is good enough in these big events,” he said.
Locked at a set apiece with Bergs, Sweeny led 2-0 in the deciding set before his Belgian opponent retired with injury.
Sweeny and Jasika have since been placed in the main draw; they take on No.22 seed Francisco Cerundolo and ninth seed Hubert Hurkacz respectively.
Hunter has drawn former world No.5 Sara Errani of Italy.
“I’ve been in a lot of big moments on the doubles court and beaten a lot of good players, so I’m trying to use that experience in my singles and believe in myself,” she said after holding off Czech teen Dominika Salkova to secure her place in the AO 2024 main draw.
“I literally have no words. I was shaking in the last two games. She’s a quality player, she’s so aggressive and took time away from me, which was a little bit hard for me, because I usually like to be the aggressive one.
“I’m just so happy, I can’t believe that I’ve qualified at my home Slam.”
Hunter’s five previous main-draw appearances – the first coming 10 years ago – have been as a wildcard.
“I’ve qualified at the French and Wimbledon, but to do it here in Australia, which I think is the hardest one for us Australians to do, it’s amazing,” she said after improving her winning streak in Grand Slam qualifying to nine matches.
History proves it is difficult for Australians to qualify at their home Grand Slam.
Hunter becomes only the third woman to achieve the feat in Melbourne Park’s 36-year history, after Kerry-Anne Guse (2000) and Astra Sharma (2019).
She had extra motivation to qualify, too, with her Perth-based parents arriving in Melbourne on Sunday. Her mother, Genene, is yet to see her play singles at the Australian Open.
“It’s going to be really special to have them here,” Hunter said.
Main-draw action begins on 14 January, marking the first Sunday start in the tournament’s history.