Jin Woodman, 15, earns wildcard to Australian Open wheelchair tennis main draw

In 2018, eight-year-old Jin Woodman tossed the coin within the first spherical of the Australian Open males’s quad singles, bright-eyed and beaming.

He by no means thought that seven years later, he could be competing in the primary draw himself.

However following within the paths of his childhood inspirations, Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson, that dream will grow to be a actuality after he earned a wildcard spot in his dwelling Grand Slam subsequent 12 months — at solely 15 years previous.

It was a powerful run on the 2024 Australian Wheelchair Tennis Nationwide Championships in November that did it, the place he received three titles and climbed to quantity 20 on the earth.

He is quantity 4 in juniors and the youngest participant within the high 25.

“To be very younger … it means loads,” Woodman instructed ABC Sport.

“[To have] have buddies, household, whoever supporting me, on the aspect. [It] would not matter if I win or lose, it may be an incredible success for me.”

Woodman may also headline the inaugural junior wheelchair event on the Open, which comes off the again of rising reputation within the sport. 

The rising reputation is one thing Tennis Australia places right down to the “Dylan Alcott impact”.

Wheelchair tennis has skilled a couple of 50 per cent improve up to now 5 years in its elite junior pathway, leading to Australia at the moment having extra ranked gamers in wheelchair tennis than another nation.

Within the junior rankings, Australia has 4 gamers contained in the boys’ and ladies’ high 10 — 4 boys and one lady.

Davidson, who has 4 Australian Open quad doubles titles and two Paralympic medals alongside Alcott, stated the game had grown immensely since he was Woodman’s age.

“Because the years have gone on, and given the truth that Dylan was most likely one of the crucial well-liked wheelchair tennis gamers round, it is simply drawn so many younger youngsters into our sport,” Davidson stated.

“Which is superior, as a result of wheelchair tennis might be the largest sport for incapacity in the intervening time. We get essentially the most worldwide recognition [and] we play in Grand Slam tournaments, similar to the able-bodied gamers do.

Tennis Australia’s chief tennis officer Tom Larner, stated it wasn’t simply Alcott and Davidson, however David Corridor earlier than them, who claimed 17 Grand Slam singles titles over his 20-year-old profession in wheelchair tennis.

“It is actually pleasing to see we have individuals gamers behind him which can be persevering with to maintain that momentum within the progress of the game,” Larner stated.

“And [Jin at] 15 years previous, that is fairly superb. [There are] not many Australians who play in foremost draw within the Australian Open at 15 in any kind. So to attain that …there’s going to be big crowd behind him.”

Reflecting this rising reputation, Wimbledon and the Australian Open elevated wheelchair tennis draw sizes.

In 2024, males’s and girls’s wheelchair attracts doubled in measurement on the All England Membership.

“We’re actually pushing and breaking, as one in all my greatest mates Dylan likes to say, glass ceilings down,” Davidson stated.

“And we’re showcasing that we’re skilled athletes, similar to able-bodied athletes. We put within the work and we should be recognised like them, too.”

There’s an opportunity Davidson and Woodman may meet one another in the primary draw on the Open, a prospect the latter is extra enthusiastic about than the previous.

“I am beginning to get slightly bit fearful of this younger man. He is beginning to take over the reins, so it is form of like I am not fairly able to cross on the torch,” Davidson stated.

“However I imply, if he will get any higher, I believe he may simply come and seize it off me to be sincere.

“He is simply fearless on the tennis court docket. He goes for his photographs, and he is passionate. He loves the game.”