Kubler, former world number 1 junior, makes yet another comeback at 31

© AFP

Clément Gehl

le 12/11/2024 à 17h19

2 min to read

Brisbane Kubler

Jason Kubler, absent from the tennis courts since his 5-set loss to Daniel Galan in the first round of the Australian Open on January 14, is making a comeback.

The Australian is taking part in the $25,000 Future tournament in Brisbane. He won his first round match on Monday 6-0, 6-4 against Japan's Yuki Mochizuki, wearing a knee brace, the stigma of the reason for his absence this year.

Kubler's career is full of obstacles. After becoming world number 1 in the junior category in 2010, he had a bright future ahead of him. Unfortunately, his ascent was halted in 2011 by a knee operation, the first of six he may have had (five on the left knee, one on the right).

These knee problems were a huge brake on his career, with doctors asking him not to play on hard courts. So, for many years, he preferred clay-court tournaments.

In addition to his physical problems, he also experienced financial problems. Before his comeback in 2018, he was almost broke. The Australian declared that in 2017 he had just 12 cents left in his bank account. To alleviate these financial worries, he had to return to his hometown, Brisbane, to give tennis lessons.

Between 2018 and the present day, Jason Kubler has alternated between dazzling performances on the ATP circuit, including a 63rd world ranking on April 24, 2023 and a 1/8th-place finish at Wimbledon in 2022, and repeated absences due to his knee.

If his knee doesn't bother him, the Australian could be eligible for wild cards to play the Australian season in January. With the Australian Open in his sights.