Rising British star set for blockbuster Australian Open debut against Nick Kyrgios
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Jacob Fearnley was ranked outside the world’s top 600 last year but has qualified for the Australian Open for the first time. Britain’s Jacob Fearnley was handed a blockbuster Australian Open debut against Nick Kyrgios. Scot Fearnley was still at college in the United States during last year’s tournament but has rocketed up to 86 in the world after a stunning start to his professional tennis career, which included taking a set off Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.
![[Jacob Fearnley is set to face Nick Kyrgios]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/09/05/2f64b5314e17964ea6fa40153fa1d980Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM2NDg0NzM0-2.78628971.jpg)
That earned the 23-year-old a main-draw spot at Melbourne Park, and it is set to be an occasion to remember against home star Kyrgios – providing the former Wimbledon finalist is fit enough to compete. Kyrgios has not played in his home slam since 2022 after two years on the sidelines following knee and wrist surgeries.
![[Katie Boulter made a strong start to the season at the United Cup (Mark Baker/AP)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/09/05/02-ae8a53ca67914812bf27fd3d05a4b8fe.jpg)
He admitted after making his return at the Brisbane International last week that he is not sure if his wrist will hold up to best-of-five-set tennis, while he also has a minor abdominal strain. Among the other British players, Emma Raducanu was the only one to draw a seed.
The former US Open champion pulled out of her scheduled warm-up tournament in Auckland with a back niggle but has been practising at Melbourne Park this week. Raducanu will have to be sharp from the start after being paired with 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
