Emerson Jones and James Duckworth have earned coveted main-draw singles wildcards into Australian Open 2026 following standout recent performances on the Australian Pro Tour.
Across the new look Australian Pro Tour Wildcard Points Race – factoring in performances at tournaments in Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide in November – Jones and Duckworth emerged as the highest points earners across the three-event swing.
They were confirmed as wildcard winners on Saturday, the same day the AO Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off finals were playing out in Chengdu.
There, Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas and Chinese No.1 Bu Yunchaokete won the women’s and men’s singles events, confirming their places at Melbourne Park in January.
With Patrick Kypson and Elizabeth Mandlik already announced as US wildcard recipients for AO 2026, that leaves five singles wildcards still to be announced for both the men’s and women’s main draws.
Jones, the No.3 seed in Playford, secured the women’s wildcard after a consistent three-week campaign that included a finals appearance in Sydney and a win in South Australia.
“No one really knew who was going to win [the wildcard], it was a bit up and down. I was just trying to win the tournament, but this is definitely a nice bonus,” she reflected.
Jones, a former world No.1 junior who is just 17 years of age, said she couldn’t wait to experience the Australian Open again, where she will make her second consecutive main-draw appearance.
“It feels great, I'm going to have such a great time playing it and I'm really excited,” said Jones, who last year drew Elena Rybakina in the first round.
“I played it last year and it was so fun. It was such a great experience for me to get to know the level. So definitely having another crack at it, I'm super excited.”
Playford top seed Duckworth secured his wildcard after emerging as the leading Australian performer across the three-week race. The 33-year-old capped off a strong swing with his ranking rising to world No.87, earning his return to the AO main draw after narrowly missing direct entry.
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“I'm really excited to be back playing the main draw of the Australian Open. It was nice to secure a spot through this great new initiative from Tennis Australia in those last three weeks,” Duckworth said.
“It's my favourite tournament by far in the world. The home crowd support is unreal at Melbourne Park. I get to play in front of friends and family and I'm really looking forward to all the support, and I can't wait to get out there.”
For Diyas, the wildcard she secured in Chengdu means she will compete in a Grand Slam main draw for the first time in four years.
The 32-year-old, a former world No.31, has reached the third round of the Australian Open four times previous – the first time coming back in 2014. Her best Grand Slam results were a pair of fourth-round finishes at Wimbledon in 2014 and 2015.
“Honestly, this is unbelievable. I don’t believe it yet. I’m just so happy to win this tournament, and to be back in the main draw of a Grand Slam,” said Diyas, who defeated Chinese Taipei’s En-Shuo Liang 6-3 6-4 in Saturday’s final.
“I’ve been injured for two-and-a-half years, almost, and I came back last year. So for me, this feels extra special, to be back on the Slam main draw, so yeah, I’m just really happy and grateful.”
For Bu, his 6-4 6-2 win over Japan’s Akira Santillan means he will compete in a sixth consecutive Grand Slam main draw, where he is seeking his first win.
Currently ranked 120th, the 23-year-old has been ranked as high as world No.64, and like Diyas did not drop a set in four match wins at Chengdu’s Sichuan International Tennis Centre.
“It was a long year, I’m very tired. But right now, I’m really happy to win this wildcard, and I can get a few days for holidays and come back strong and be ready in the pre-season, and the new season,” Bu said.
“Maybe I don’t have any pressure. I have the experience for last year [playing all the Slam main draws in 2025], so I think I can manage it well, my emotions, like everything, for my tennis level and how to play my level in there [at AO 2026].”
Further wildcards for AO 2026 will be announced over the coming weeks.