US Open: Aussie Jason Kubler staring at big pay day after first round upset of Roberto Bautista-Agut

JASON Kubler is financially able to deliver on a long-held wish to make his family’s life a little easier after securing the ‘biggest win of my career’ in the opening round of the US Open.

Jason Kubler knocked over the 19th seed in straight sets.

BRISBANE’S Jason Kubler is financially able to deliver on a long-held wish to make his family’s life a little easier after winning his first Grand Slam singles match in New York.

In a memorable US Open breakthrough for the former world No.1 ranked 16-year-old, Kubler had too many weapons for Spain’s 19th seed Roberto Bautista-Agut in a 6-3 6-3 6-4 verdict.

The 25-year-old has turned Tennis Australia’s wildcard entry into a guaranteed US Open cheque of $127,000 and his prizemoney would rise to at least $212,000 if he can win his second-round clash with American Taylor Fritz on Thursday morning (EST).

Kubler’s official earnings in an eight-year professional career wrecked by six knee surgeries had been $454,000), of which $234,000 was banked this year due to wins which improved his world ranking 851 places to a projected No.88.

Jason Kubler knocked over the 19th seed in straight sets.

“It’s crazy to think just how far it’s been in just under 12 months,” Kubler said.

“This is the biggest win of my career.’’

The right-hander, who has rebounded in the past 10 months from the sixth of his knee operations, lives at Mango Hill, in Brisbane’s north, with his mother Lyn, elder brother Jonathan and sister Jade, 23.

Lyn raised her children as a single mum when Jason’s father died of cancer 17 years ago.

“Jason still lives in Mango Hill with his mum and his siblings. He moved out for a little while, but he’s back there when he’s in Brisbane,’’ Kubler’s manager Belinda Colaneri said.

“He’s been overseas since April and is looking forward to having a break in Queensland for a couple of weeks after the US Open and think about what tournaments he plays with his better ranking.’’

A 16-year-old Kubler told The Courier-Mail before his main-draw debut at the 2010 Australian Open that he appreciated his mother’s devotion and work ethic in the aged care sector and “a lot of other jobs’’.

“Hopefully I can make a career out of tennis and start providing for the family,’’ he said.

Colaneri said Kubler has “definitely always wanted to look after his mum’’, who continues to work fulltime.

“They are a close family. He’s gone from the highest to the lowest in his tennis and now we are hoping this is only the start,’’ she said.

Kubler did not play a Grand Slam main-draw match between the 2010 and 2018 Australian Opens, being granted an Australian Open wildcard in January when he won two Challenger titles in Australia.

“The biggest thing for me is we were having conversations previously where Jason couldn’t see the positive side of life,’’ Colaneri said.

Jason Kubler had plenty to celebrate.

“He was unfit and the parameters of him playing tennis again were uncertain, so just now to see the difference is amazing and he’s done most of it on his own.’’

Tennis Australia also handed Kubler its reciprocal US Open wildcard, which some critics thought should have gone to the younger Thanasi Kokkinakis instead.

Kubler, who was off the tour for 14 months through to 2017 with a microfracture in a knee, suffered cramps earlier last month in a three-set loss in Washington DC.

But he withstood the 32c temperature and high humidity against an opponent who has career wins over former US Open champions Marin Cilic and Juan Martin del Potro.

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Originally published as US Open: Aussie Jason Kubler staring at big pay day after first round upset of Roberto Bautista-Agut