The Australian Open
Who has qualified for the 2026 Australian Open?
2025 Next Gen ATP Finals competitors Budkov Kjaer, Basavareddy & Jodar are all eligible
January 15, 2026
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer will make his first draw at the 2026 Australian Open (file photo).
By ATP staff
A wave of rising talent secured places in the Australian Open main draw on Thursday, winning their final qualifying round matches at Melbourne Park.
Norway’s Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, American Nishesh Basavareddy and Spain’s Rafael Jodar – all competing in the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by the PIF – navigated successfully. They were joined by 19-year-old Rei Sakamoto, the 2024 Australian Open boys champion.
Budkov Kjaer, who describes fellow Norwegian Casper Ruud as “your big brother,” beat Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2, 6-3 to win his first Grand Slam main-draw prize. Last year, the Norwegian won a Tour-leading four ATP Challenger titles before reaching the semifinals in Jeddah.
“We are setting the standard for the next generation,” said Budkov Kjaer, who will join Jeddah champion Learner Tien in the main event. “I saw that four of the eight who were playing Next Gen have moved on to the big stage. It’s nice to see us young people doing big things in the big stages. Maybe we’re more hungry than the old ones, but it’s nice to see your friends doing well.”
Jodar will also make his Grand Slam debut after qualifying in his first attempt. The Spaniard, who turned professional in December after two years at the University of Virginia, defeated former Next Gen ATP Finals champion Luca Van Assche 6-3, 0-6, 6-1 on Thursday.
View all of Thursday’s results from Melbourne Park here.
Sakamoto, who didn’t drop a set in his three qualifying matches, said: “Before the season, I set a goal to qualify for a draw, so it feels good,” said Sakamoto. “I think the environment suits me very well. I like my food to jump up and have a chance to help, it makes it easier to build. I like the crowd and the place here, it makes me feel relaxed.”
Basavareddy, who is working with Daniil Medvedev’s coach, Gilles Cervara, will appear in the Grand Slam tournament for the third time in a row. The 20-year-old showed resilience in qualifying, saving two match points to beat Sebastian Ofner in the second round before edging past George Loffhagen 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday.
Alexander Blockx, who reached the final in Jeddah and won last week’s ATP Challenger in Canberra, entered the final round of qualifying with seven wins. However, the Belgian player was forced to retire due to a back injury in the third set against Jason Kubler from Australia.
Dane Sweeny was the only other Australian to qualify. The 24-year-old defeated Stefano Travaglia 7-6(6), 7-6(3) to reach a major tournament for the first time since the 2024 Australian Open.
