John Millman and Jaimee Fourlis will compete at
Australian Open 2023 after the Aussie duo were awarded main-draw wildcards.
At different stages of their career, the two local players bolster Australia’s representation in the Australian Open 2023 main draw to 14 competitors across the men’s and women’s singles events.
Fan favorite Millman, a tour veteran at age 33, will compete in his sixth consecutive AO main draw, and ninth overall, when the tournament kicks off on 16 January. His best results at Melbourne Park are trips to the third round in 2016 and 2020; the latter run ended in five thrilling sets against Roger Federer under lights at Rod Laver Arena.
Less than 18 months before that, Millman had beaten Federer en route to the 2018 US Open quarterfinals – his best-ever result at a Grand Slam tournament.
The Queenslander has slipped to 147th in the rankings, but his relentlessly heavy, physical playing style and supreme fitness have carried him as high as World No.33. He won his first career ATP title in Astana in 2020, reached another two finals in the two years before that, and owns nine career wins over top-20 players.
“I’m extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to play at the Australian Open,” Millman said. “It’s a special place for me to return to, in front of my friends, family and the powerful Aussie crowd. I couldn’t be more excited.”
Fourlis, meanwhile, returns to the main draw of the Australian Open for the first time in five years. Her reappearance follows a resurgent season during which she rose from outside the top 300 to a career-high ranking of World No.147.
“I’m so thankful to Tennis Australia for the opportunity to play in the main draw of my home Slam,” Fourlis said.
Australian players Jason Kubler, Alexei Popyrin, Rinky Hijikata, Olivia Gadecki, Storm Hunter and Talia Gibson were among the first wildcard recipients announced last month.