"I think that's gong to be my treat and maybe the kettle too": Maddison Inglis will buy herself long-desired toaster after Australian Open breakout run

Maddison Inglis can finally buy the toaster. After the biggest fortnight of her career, the 27-year-old joked that a long-desired Smeg toaster and maybe even the matching kettle would be her personal reward for reaching the fourth round of the 2026 Australian Open, a run that ended with a 6-0, 6-3 defeat to former world No.1 Iga Swiatek on Rod Laver Arena.

“I’ve wanted a Smeg toaster for so long,” Inglis laughed. “But I was always like, ‘No, you can’t do that.’ So I think that’s going to be my treat — and maybe the kettle too.”

It was a light-hearted moment at the end of an emotional press conference that reflected just how much the past two weeks had changed for the Queenslander. The prize money from her Melbourne run is the most she has ever earned at a single tournament, and Inglis said much of it would go straight back into her tennis.

“It’s a lot of money, it’s the most prize money I’ve ever received in one tournament,” she said. “I’ll definitely use a lot of it to invest back into my tennis and have some people on the road with me to support me, because it’s a long year.”

That long year now looks very different to the one Inglis imagined before Christmas. Had anyone predicted she would be playing a fourth-round match against Swiatek on Rod Laver Arena, she admits she wouldn’t have believed them.

“No, I definitely wouldn’t have believed that,” she said. “Even though today didn’t go like I had planned, it’s been an incredible two weeks. Pretty life-changing for me. It’s the best result of my career.”

Inglis’ tournament had already become one of the stories of the Australian summer before Monday night. She saved match points in the opening round, rode wave after wave of home support, and suddenly found herself walking out onto the sport’s biggest stage on Australia Day, facing a player she described as “next level”.

“She’s just a different player,” Inglis said. “You feel pressure from every ball she hits. It’s like, ‘I’ve got to do something here. I’ve got to really take my chances,’ because you’re not going to get too many.”

Swiatek raced through the opening set 6-0, but the scoreline didn’t tell the full story. Inglis had game points, played long rallies, and refused to go away, eventually breaking serve early in the second set to get on the board — a moment she celebrated with visible relief and joy.

“It’s not every day you get to play on Rod Laver Arena,” she said. “I could’ve gone the other way and just moped around after losing the first set 6-0, but I wanted to enjoy it and get the crowd involved.”

The crowd responded in kind, roaring as Inglis punched the air after winning her first game and again when she pushed Swiatek in several extended games. Even as the world No.1 closed out the match 6-3, Inglis felt she had earned her place on the stage.

“I thought I did my absolute best out there. I gave it everything,” she said. “So I’m disappointed, but also proud.”

That pride ran deeper than a single match. Inglis revealed that when the tournament began, she wasn’t even sure she had the energy to compete.

“Honestly, going into this tournament, I didn’t think I had that in me,” she said. “The first day, I said to someone close to me, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to get out on court. I just feel exhausted.’ And it’s the first tournament of the year.”

What followed was a reminder, she said, of what can happen when a player simply fights for every point. “That’s why my emotions were so high,” Inglis said. “I couldn’t believe it. I was so happy and so proud. It’s not every day you get to play at a home Slam, so I wanted to give it everything.”

The run has pushed her to around No.113 in the live rankings — close to the top 100, even if she isn’t getting carried away just yet.

“That jump from 113 to 100 is still a long way,” she said. “But I’ve gained some really good points from this tournament, so I’m pretty stoked to start the year close to a career high.”

It may also reshape her schedule. Events like Indian Wells and Miami, once distant possibilities, could now be within reach. “I hadn’t really thought about them,” she said. “But maybe now I might be in them, which is really cool. I’ll sit down with my team and have a look at the calendar.”

For now, there will be a short break, some recovery from “a couple of niggles”, time on the Gold Coast with family, and support duties for partner Jason in the doubles. Then, perhaps, a trip to the appliance store. “I love appliances,” Inglis smiled. “I’ve got a list. Maybe I can tick a couple off.”

A Mini Cooper, she added, remains a longer-term dream. But after a fortnight that changed her career trajectory — and her bank balance — Maddison Inglis has already earned herself something shiny.