Lebanon’s Hady Habib made history on Sunday at the Australian Open, becoming the first player from his country to secure a victory in a Grand Slam match.
The 26-year-old, ranked world number 219, defeated China's Bu Yunchaokete 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) in a thrilling encounter on Court 13. The win not only marked a personal achievement for Habib but also a milestone for Lebanese tennis.
Habib, who is the only Lebanese male or female player ever to reach the main draw at one of the four major tennis tournaments, expressed his delight after the match. “This is probably one of the best days of my career honestly,” Habib said.
“It’s such an incredible feeling to get this win not only for myself but for Lebanon and Lebanese tennis.” He added, “As you guys could see there, the crowd was absolutely wild. It made it even more special to win in front of them.”
Habib, born in America to a Lebanese father, moved to Lebanon at the age of six and has been representing his country in international tennis since he was 15, when he first played in the Davis Cup.
He wore Lebanon's colours with pride at last year’s Paris Olympics, although he was eliminated in the first round by Carlos Alcaraz.
Reflecting on the significance of the day, Habib smiled and said, “There were definitely more people at the Alcaraz match. I think there were more Lebanese people today, so it felt a little more special.” He added, “The support I’ve been getting these last couple of days has been incredible. My phone has been absolutely blowing up.”
Habib was especially moved by the presence of family members from Sydney who had travelled to watch him play, stating, “It’s been a special time for me to have all the Lebanese people join in the community. Yeah, I felt the energy out there.”
The victory earned Habib a second-round match against France’s 14th seed Ugo Humbert. “It’s a huge win, especially what we’ve been going through as a country,” he said.
“I think to bring something positive, especially with the war and other issues we’ve had in the past, it’s just nice to get this win for Lebanon and for the people. This is the biggest achievement I’ve had in my entire career,” he maintained.
