World No. 219 Hady Habib secures groundbreaking victory for Lebanon at Australian Open

Lebanese qualifier Hady Habib, aged 26, achieved a historic milestone for his war-torn nation on Sunday by defeating China's Bu Yunchaokete with scores of 7-6(4), 6-4, and 7-6(6), thereby advancing to the second round of the Australian Open.

Ranked 219th in the world, Habib became the first player from Lebanon to secure a victory in a men's singles main draw match at a Grand Slam event during the professional era. He was met with enthusiastic cheers from a lively crowd that filled the small stands of Court 13 at Melbourne Park.

"It is an incredible feeling to achieve this victory not just for myself but for Lebanon and Lebanese tennis... the crowd was absolutely electrifying. Winning in front of them made it even more special," Habib expressed to the media.

As fans chanted his name, the Texas-born athlete acknowledged the audience by raising his racket and displaying a Lebanese flag after winning the crucial tiebreak.

Habib's triumph comes at a challenging time for Lebanon, following a ceasefire on November 26 between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which has held after nearly 14 months of conflict.

"I aim to bring something positive... we have been enduring a difficult period due to the war and other past issues," he remarked.

Having moved back to Lebanon with his family at the age of six, Habib later returned to the United States to hone his skills as a junior player.

He represented Lebanon at the Paris Olympics and made history last year by becoming the first player from his country to win an event on the second-tier ATP Challenger Tour in Chile.

"I began playing tennis in Lebanon. I still have many friends there, and my parents currently reside there," Habib noted.

"I hope to attract a larger audience for my next match. It would be ideal to play on a bigger court so that more Lebanese fans can come out to support me."

SportsLigue