Australian Open - Who are James McCabe and Li Tu, the two Australians who have been invited to Melbourne?
The first invitations to the final draw of the 2025 Australian Open have been announced. On the men's side, Stan Wawrinka, James McCabe, Tristan Schoolkate, Li Tu, Nishesh Basavareddy, Kasidit Samrej and Lucas Pouille have all received the precious sesame.
While Wawrinka and Pouille are well known to the general public, other names are complete unknowns to many fans. Two in particular, however, deserve a little more attention: Li Tu and James McCabe.
The former is 28 years old. Unknown to the public, he revealed himself at the last US Open. He came through qualifying with aplomb, then forced Carlos Alcaraz to play 4 sets in the first round (6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1). An unexpected performance that demonstrated the Australian's ability to play well in big matches and on big courts.
When asked, he made no secret of his delight at the prospect of playing in the main draw in Australia: "I'm very excited and grateful to Tennis Australia for this fantastic opportunity. I can't wait to show my best tennis at Melbourne Park in front of the public. I think it will be a great way to start the year and prepare for 2025, hopefully my best year yet."
The second is 21 years old. Already a guest last year, he pushed Alex Michelsen in a 4-set match (7-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2). After a sharp fall in the ATP rankings, the young Australian has bounced back, winning a total of 55 matches in 2024 and returning to the world's top 250.
He too was very grateful: "As a professional tennis player, my ultimate goal has always been to compete at the highest level and showcase my skills on the sport's biggest stages. To be able to compete in a Grand Slam tournament in my home country is a dream come true, and I'm incredibly grateful to Tennis Australia for granting me this wildcard.
This opportunity also fills me with a deep sense of pride and excitement. I'm ready to give my all and represent my country on one of the biggest stages in tennis."
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