5 January 2016 | Tennis Australia

Rising Aussie star Omar Jasika (Vic) has been awarded a wildcard into the main draw of Australian Open 2016.

Eighteen-year-old Jasika won the US Open junior singles and doubles championships in 2014 and has spent the past 18 months working his way onto the professional tour, slashing his ranking from 841 in October 2014, peaking at world No.256 in August this year, and is currently world No.311.

He started 2015 playing qualifying for the Australian Open, defeating the much more highly ranked John-Patrick Smith in three tough sets, before losing in the third round to Marius Copil (ROU). He reached the final of the Adelaide ITF Futures event in February, and won ITF titles in Korea in May and Canada in June.

“I can’t wait to play the Australian Open – it will be my first time in main draw singles at a Slam and to be able to play in my home town at this level is unbelievable,” Jasika said today.

“I’d like to thank Tennis Australia for this incredible opportunity and I look forward to doing my best.”

Wildcards for Australian Open 2016 are as follows, with a further two men’s and two women’s wildcards yet to be announced.