Thiem Headlines Australian Open Wild Cards

Former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem was awarded a main draw wild card into the Australian Open, the tournament announced Friday.

World No. 102 Thiem, who is continuing his comeback from a wrist injury, has enjoyed plenty of success at Melbourne Park. In 2020, the Austrian earned three consecutive Top 10 wins — including an upset of first seed Rafael Nadal — en route to the final at the season’s first major. Only Novak Djokovic was able to stop him in the championship match.

Thiem owns a 19-8 record at the Australian Open and has advanced to at least the Round of 16 in four of his past five appearances.

Tournament organisers also announced main draw wild cards for American Christopher Eubanks and Frenchman Luca Van Assche.

Eubanks is playing the best tennis of his career. The 26-year-old qualified for last year’s US Open, where he reached the second round of the main draw. The American also reached ATP Challenger Tour finals in the United States shortly thereafter.

Eighteen-year-old Van Assche reached a career-high No. 137 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in December. The Frenchman won the Roland Garros boys’ singles title in 2021.