NEW DELHI: Hady Habib has marked a significant milestone in tennis history by becoming the first Lebanese player in the Open era to qualify for a Grand Slam men’s singles draw, achieving this feat at the Australian Open.
His journey to the main draw was secured after winning three rounds in the qualifiers, with his final victory coming in a closely contested tiebreaker against Clement Chidekh of France, with scores of 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8).
This achievement is a continuation of Habib’s ascending career trajectory, which saw him making his Olympic debut in Paris last year, where he faced the eventual silver medalist and four-time major winner, Carlos Alcaraz, in a memorable first-round match.
In addition to his Olympic debut, Habib made history late last year in Temuco, Chile, by becoming the first player from Lebanon to win an ATP Challenger Tour event.
Born in Houston, Texas, Habib moved to Lebanon as a child where he began playing tennis, later returning to the US to pursue a professional career. Now 26, he expresses a deep sense of pride in representing Lebanon on the global stage, viewing his efforts and sacrifices as reflective of the resilience of the Lebanese people.

“I know it’s just a sport, but I feel like representing Lebanon and sacrificing all the things I had to do to get here, it kind of resembles how our nation has fought back,” Habib told Australia’s SBS News recently.
Habib’s ascent in the world of tennis comes against the backdrop of a challenging period in Lebanon, marked by conflict and a fragile ceasefire following nearly 14 months of war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
The conflict, which saw Hezbollah firing rockets into Israel in response to an attack by Hamas, resulted in significant casualties and displacement within Lebanon.
Throughout this period, Habib remained in contact with his family and friends in Lebanon, expressing heartbreak over the situation in his home country and a desire for peace.