Alex Bolt urges tennis fans to support him, other Aussies during Aus Open qualification
Melbourne tennis player Alex Bolt had just 10 minutes’ notice before embarking on a successful qualification run at Wimbledon. His next quest is to qualify for the Aus Open, alongside 23 other Aussies.
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Twenty-four Aussies will be among more than 250 hopefuls battling it out for the final 32 places in the Australian Open main draw next week – and they’re calling on tennis fans to come cheer them on.
The would-be qualifiers range from newcomers like 16-year-old Cruz Hewitt, son of Lleyton, through to big names vying to make a comeback, including former world No.17 Bernard Tomic. Melbourne-based Alex Bolt will also be aiming to qualify for his home grand slam.
A ground pass for AO Opening Week, presented by the Herald Sun, will give fans access to the qualifying tournament, which spans three rounds on courts across Melbourne Park from January 6-9. They cost just $15 for adults and $10 for kids.
Bolt says the more support he and his fellow Aussies can have in the stands, the better.
“That’s an extra edge you can have as an Aussie – (getting) the crowd on your side could mean one or two points here and there, and that could change the match in your favour,” said Bolt, who celebrates his 32nd birthday on January 5.
“There are going to be high-quality tennis matches all next week. So bring your friends and family down.”
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He said he was “filled with confidence” coming into qualifying, buoyed by a standout 2024 in which he qualified for Wimbledon and skyrocketed up the ATP rankings, from world No.328 at the beginning of the year to 154 at the end.
“This is the first pre-season that I’ve been able to train properly for a few years,” he added, noting he had “his fair share of injuries” in previous years. “I’m really in a really good spot physically and mentally.”
Bolt’s victory to qualify for Wimbledon ranks firmly among his career highlights – alongside defeating former world No.6 Gilles Simon to reach the third round of the Australian Open in 2019. Both these wins came in hard-fought five-setters in which the South Australian-born battler had to save match points.
Bolt almost didn’t get the chance to play for a Wimbledon berth.
“At the start of play on the first day of qualifying, I wasn’t in the draw. I was an alternate,” he recalled. “I was just hanging around the courts, hoping someone would pull out.
“(Then) my name was called over the PA system – someone had pulled out. I had 10 minutes to get my whites on, do a physical warm up and get ready for a match.
“The tennis lifestyle (means) you really never know when you’re going to play anyway. I wouldn’t say it was a relaxed feeling, but I gave myself no pressure because it was such a last-minute thing. I went out there and played freely.”
The guaranteed payday that followed qualification allowed him to fly mum Cathy and brother Nathan to London. It was their first trip overseas.
“I’d always dreamt of bringing my parents over to come watch me at Wimbledon,” Bolt said. “I qualified a few years ago and I was going to bring them out, but they hadn’t got their passports so I couldn’t.
“It was a cherry on top, qualifying and getting some of my family over to watch me.”
In addition to qualifying for the AO, Bolt’s main goal for 2025 is cracking the top 100 for the first time.
Coach Rohan Williams said Bolt was well on his way, having played – and won – a lot of matches in 2024 to get back inside the top 200 for the first time in more than two years.
“He played 60 matches in the first six months of last year alone,” Williams said. “And he defeated eight players in the top 100.”
Williams described Bolt as a clean ball striker with great “creativity” on the court, while Bolt named his forehand as his greatest strength.
AO Opening Week runs from January 6-11. Ground passes also provide access to open practice featuring top seeds on Rod Laver Arena, a Fan Zone where players will sign autographs and take photos with fans and, on January 9, new event 1 Point Slam, in which amateur tennis players will have the opportunity to take on pros.
Opening Week will also comprise four nights of charity matches – featuring the likes of Novak Djokovic, Alex de Minaur, Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff – and new fast-paced tournament Red Bull Bassline, for which additional tickets are required.
AO Opening Week, presented by the Herald Sun
Aus Open qualifying:
-From 10am on January 6-8 and 11am on January 9, on courts across Melbourne Park
-Accessible to AO Opening Week ground pass holders (cost $15 for adults, $10 for kids)
-128 men and 128 women will compete for the final 16 men’s and 16 women’s places in the main draw
-24 Aussies will participate, including former world no.17 Bernard Tomic, Cruz Hewitt (son of Lleyton), 2023 AO doubles champion Jason Kubler, and Melbourne’s Jamiee Fourlis, Destanee Aiava, Matthew Dellavedova, Elena Micic, Alex Bolt
-The other Aussies are Marc Polmans, Dane Sweeny, Hayden Jones, Blake Ellis, Eddie Winter, Pavle Marinkov, Kimberly Birrell, Arina Rodionova, Priscilla Hon, Taylah Preston, Maddison Inglis, Astra Sharma, Tina Smith, Petra Hule, Melisa Ercan, Lizette Cabrera
-Former top 25-ranked players Sara Errani of Italy, Dan Evans of Britain, Cristian Garin of Chile, Petra Martic and Ana Konjuh both of Croatia, plus 2024 AO junior singles champs Rei Sakamoto of Japan and Renata Jamrichova of Slovakia will also participate
Other attractions:
-Four nights of charity matches on Rod Laver Arena, 4pm January 7 and 5pm January 8-10
-Red Bull Bassline, 7pm January 7 on Rod Laver Arena
-AO 1 Point Slam, 1pm January 9 on Kia Arena
-Open Practice on Rod Laver Arena, from 11am-4pm on January 6, 8-11 and 11am-2.30pm on January 7
-Grand Slam Oval Fan Stage, from 12-6pm on January 6-10
-Kids Tennis Day on January 11
More info: ausopen.com/whats-on
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