Emerson Jones and James Duckworth receive wildcards ahead of 2026 Australian Open
Emerson Jones has received a wildcard to next month's Australian Open after stand-out performances throughout November. (Getty Images: Robert Prange)
In short:
Emerson Jones and James Duckworth have both received wildcards into the Australian Open main draw.
Jones secured the wildcard after a consistent three-week campaign in November.
Nick Kyrgios remains a contender to receive a wildcard if he is able to get through exhibition matches in the US and Dubai this month.
Emerging star Emerson Jones and veteran James Duckworth have earned wildcards into next month's Australian Open main draw.
The pair enjoyed stand-out performances across the new-look Australian Pro Tour Wildcard Points Race held in Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide in November.
Jones, the number three seed in Playford, secured the women's AO wildcard after a consistent three-week campaign that included a finals appearance in Sydney and a win in South Australia.
At just 17 years of age, the Queenslander becomes one of the youngest Australians to earn an Open main-draw wildcard.
Reflecting on the level of competition across the three events, Jones said the battle for top spot remained wide open until the final week.
"No-one really knew who was going to win it,'' she said.
"It was a bit up and down. I was just trying to win the tournament, but this is definitely a nice bonus."
After sealing Australia's path through to next year's Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers with a key role in last month's play-offs in Hobart, Jones cannot wait to experience another Australian Open.
The teenage sensation debuted last year after becoming Australia's first female world number one junior since Jelena Dokic in 1998.
"It feels great. I'm going to have such a great time playing it and I'm really excited," Jones said.
"I played it last year and it was so fun. It was such a great experience for me to get to know the level."
On the men's side, top-seeded Duckworth secured his wildcard after emerging as the leading Australian performer across the three-week race.
James Duckworth has a chance to continue his career via a wildcard for next month's Australian Open. (Getty Images: Zhizhao Wu)
The 33-year-old capped off a strong swing with his ranking rising to world number 87, earning his return to the AO main draw after narrowly missing direct entry.
"I'm really excited to be back playing the main draw of the Australian Open," Duckworth said.
"It was nice to secure a spot through this great new initiative from Tennis Australia in those last three weeks.
"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."
Other Open wildcard recipients so far are China's Yunchaokete Bu and Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas, who earned the Asia Pacific entries, and Americans Patrick Kypson and Elizabeth Mandlik, who qualified under Tennis Australia's reciprocal arrangement with the USTA.
Nick Kyrgios will be a frontline contender for a wildcard if he gets through a series of exhibition matches this month in the US and Dubai.
AAP