Four Australians Get 2026 AO Wildcards; Kyrgios in Limbo

Four Australian players have secured wildcard entries into the main draw of the 2026 Australian Open, but Nick Kyrgios remains in limbo as organizers await a decision on the former world No. 13 ahead of the January 18 start in Melbourne.

Tennis Australia announced the selections on Monday, awarding spots to Rinky Hijikata, Priscilla Hon, Talia Gibson and Taylah Preston. This brings the total number of Australian players in the singles main draw to 16, with eight men and eight women. Hijikata, who won the men's doubles title at Melbourne Park in 2023 and reached the fourth round of the US Open that year, will make his fourth consecutive appearance in the singles event. He has secured just one win there previously. "I'm very grateful to get another opportunity to play in the main draw at the AO," Hijikata said. "There's nothing better than competing at a home Slam and I've had some of my best memories in Melbourne. I can't wait for the electric atmosphere in January."

Hon, 27, returns to the Australian Open for the first time since 2022 after a career-best third-round run at the 2025 US Open that propelled her into the top 100. "I'm so incredibly grateful to Tennis Australia for...