By Tara Murray
Sunbury’s Jin Woodman will make his Australian Open debut in January.
The rising wheelchair tennis star had hoped to make his debut at the event this year, but fell just short.
He then made his grand slam debut at the US Open in the junior wheelchair event, winning his first round before being knocked out in the semi finals.
His performances saw him named the Victorian male junior player of the year recently having won three titles.
Woodman is ranked world number three in the junior singles International Tennis Federation rankings, while is the youngest player in the top 25 of the men’s quad singles rankings.
The 15-year-old has now received a wildcard to the Australian Open in Melbourne. Speaking to Star Weekly following his Tennis Victoria award, Woodman said he was hoping to get a wildcard into the Australian Open and if he didn’t, he’d look to play juniors.
Woodman and Australian Paralympian Heath Davidson launched the Summer of Wheelchair Tennis at the Hume Tennis and Community Centre last week.
The summer wheelchair events include the Victorian Wheelchair Tennis Open from January, the Melbourne Wheelchair Open from January 12-17 and the Australian Open from January 20-25.
The first of those two events will be played at Hume Tennis and Community Centre, which is Woodman’s home court.
“This year I made the US Open juniors, it was amazing,” he told the Tennis Australia website at the launch.
“The World Team Cup in Turkey was also a great experience travelling by myself without a parent, relying on the coaches and myself.
“The Australian Open is going to be amazing considering it’s my first one. I am going to love it with all the Aussie fans who will come out to watch us. I am proud to be representing Australia on home soil.”
Davidson said at the launch that Woodman is fearless on the court and works hard.
The Australian Open 2025 will also feature the inaugural junior wheelchair tournament, along with the inaugural wheelchair qualifying event for the men’s, women’s and quad draws.
Chief tennis officer Tom Larner said there had been significant investment in the Australian wheelchair tennis pathway system.
“This year saw record entries in the Australian Wheelchair Summer Series with more than 100 athletes on site, and its junior players like Jin who are the driving force behind this growth,” he said.
“Australia has the most junior players with an ITF ranking, and we currently have 14 players within the elite junior pathway – double the number from five years ago. Inclusion is a cornerstone of our sport so there’s a lot to be proud of as we continue to create opportunities and invest in this space.”
