Lebanon’s Hady Habib Makes History at Australian Open

Lebanon’s Hady Habib made history on Sunday at the Australian Open, becoming the first player from Lebanon to win 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. The win marked not only a personal achievement for Habib but also a significant milestone for Lebanese tennis.
Habib, who is the only Lebanese male or female player to ever reach the main draw at one of the four major tennis tournaments, expressed his joy after the match. “This is probably one of the best days of my career,” 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 can see, the crowd was absolutely wild. Winning in front of them made it even more special.”
Habib, born in the United States to Lebanese parents, 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 colors with pride at the Paris Olympics last year, though he was eliminated in the first round by Carlos Alcaraz.
Reflecting on the significance of the day, Habib smiled, “There were definitely more people at the Alcaraz match. But today, there were more Lebanese people, so it felt even more special.”
He continued, “The support I’ve been receiving over the past few days has been incredible. My phone has been blowing up.”
Habib was especially moved by the presence of family members from Sydney who traveled to watch him play. “It’s been a special time for me to have all the Lebanese people join the community. Yes, 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 with everything we’ve been going through as a country,” Habib said.
“I think bringing 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 concluded.