Engaged Aussie couple Inglis and Kubler through to Australian Open main draw

Newly-engaged tennis couple Maddison Inglis and Jason Kubler have sealed Australian Open qualification within an hour of each other to read the main draw of the tournament.

Kubler had fought back from a set down against Alexander Blockx before the German retired when the Australian was leading 3-6, 6-3, 1-0.

"I wasn't sure if I would be back," he said.

"I played [the Open] a couple years ago, and it's been a bit of a bumpy ride since then.

"But fortunately for me, today, it worked out, and I get another chance, which is nice."

Kubler was able to see Inglis seal a 6-4, 6-4 win over Germany's Tamara Korpatsch and claim her first main draw berth since 2022.

"To see her get over the hump and qualify — it's just so cool," he said.

"I would actually say I felt happier watching her do that than I did at the end of my match."

Inglis and Kubler, who got engaged in December, played at the same time all week — and she initially didn't realise he had won.

"I saw he lost the first set and then he was over to my match not too much longer after, so I was like, 'oh bugger, he must have lost in straight [sets]," Inglis said.

"It was a really special moment.

In his first main draw since 2024, Kubler's reward is a daunting first-round match-up with world number 29 Francis Tiafoe.

Inglis will take on fellow Australian Kimberly Birrell.

Meanwhile, self-described scrapper Dane Sweeny also battled his way into the main draw while fellow local hope Storm Hunter completed a return after serious injury.

It's the first time since 1992 that four Aussies have reached the Australian Open through qualifying.

There are 21 Australians for fans to cheer on this year — 11 men and 10 women — across the two main draws.

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