Aussie teen Omar Jasika will make his second straight appearance at the 2017 Australian Open after earning a main draw wild card on Sunday. The 19 year old, who won his first tour-level match at Melbourne Park last year, claimed the Wildcard Play-off with a 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-0, 6-4 win over John-Patrick Smith. Jasika completed an improbable run, having trailed by two sets and a break to Marinko Matosevic in the first round.
"I’m happy to be in the Australian Open in 2017," said Jasika. "Looking forward to it. Last year was a great experience and one of the few days I won’t forget."
Jasika joins fellow Tecnifibre player Denis Istomin in the main draw. The Uzbek, who owns a 7-10 record at the Australian Open, will make his 11th appearance after clinching the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off two weeks ago. He defeated #NextGen star Duckhee Lee 7-5, 6-1 in the final.
Also claiming a main draw wild card Down Under is 18-year-old American Michael Mmoh, who will make his tournament debut. The World No. 198 achieved his goal of finishing the season inside the Top 200 of the Emirates ATP Rankings with a title run at the Knoxville Challenger last month. The victory guided him to win the USTA Australian Open Wild Card Challenge.
The 2017 Australian Open begins 16 January.
Aussie open 2017 here we come ️ pic.twitter.com/ACenOs9Y9A
— omar jasika (@OJasika) December 18, 2016