13 December 2024 | Tennis West

West Aussies Talia Gibson and Tristan Schoolkate will contest the main draw of their home Grand Slam this summer, after they were announced among the wildcard recipients for Australian Open 2025. 

Joining Gibson and Schoolkate for the other six spots are Li Tu (SA), James McCabe (NSW), Daria Saville (Vic), Ajla Tomljanovic, Emerson Jones (Qld), and Maya Joint (Qld). 

Schoolkate advanced to the second round in his first appearance in the main draw of a Slam. He came close to the third round before falling to talented Czech Jakub Mensik in a fifth-set tiebreak, and peaked at world No.167 the following week. 

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to play my first Australian Open main draw, I can’t wait to play in front of the home crowd in Melbourne,” Schoolkate said. 

Gibson reached five finals in 2024, at one stage winning three in a row on the Australian Pro Tour in September and October including both local Perth ITF Internationals at the State Tennis Centre. After starting the season ranked 236th, she peaked at world No.125, winning almost 50 singles matches. 

“I am very excited and honoured to receive a main draw wildcard and am so incredibly grateful to Tennis Australia for the opportunity,” said Gibson. 

“It is a wonderful acknowledgment for all the hard work my team and I have put in throughout the year. I’m really looking forward to starting the year with my favourite Grand Slam and to playing in front of a home crowd.” 

More main draw wildcards, plus wildcard entries to the AO qualifying tournament, will be announced soon.