Wong taking inspiration from Nadal, Ruud in run-up to AO

Of the 128 men competing in the Australian Open 2026 qualifying draw, only one has spent recent weeks picking the brains of a 22-time Grand Slam champion and a three-time major finalist still in the hunt for his maiden major.

That player is Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong, who saved two set points before earning a 6-3 7-6(6) first round qualifying win over French 31st seed Ugo Blanchet on ANZ Arena on Tuesday.

“It’s not easy,” an ecstatic Wong said. “Last year I got through the first round [of qualifying]. This year I feel comfortable, like I can go deep, [so] here we go.”

Before kicking off his 2026 season at the Hong Kong Open, where he upset the higher-ranked Gabriel Diallo and Mariano Navone, Wong spent a week in Oslo training with three-time major finalist Casper Ruud.

Wong made a stunning run to the third round of the US Open last year as a qualifier, becoming the first man from his nation to win a Grand Slam singles match in the Open era. His invitation to Norway came from Ruud’s coach, who knows Wong through their mutual association with the Rafa Nadal Academy.

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“I asked a lot of questions,” Wong said. “Everyone knows Casper is nice, but he’s really a nice person and he’s really generous to me, and I really appreciate it.”

The best piece of advice that Ruud imparted to the 21-year-old? The Norwegian shared several tips for on and off the court, but Wong declared these nuggets of wisdom as “secret”.

During his productive pre-season training, the world No.132 also spent time in Mallorca with two-time AO champion Rafael Nadal, who in November dusted off his racquets to hit with Alexandra Eala, another academy member.

“I just meet with Rafa, because he’s there every day," Wong said. He sees me keep improving, he sees the work I’ve done and I really appreciate how he’s helped me a lot.”

Awaiting Wong in the second round is Pablo Llamas Ruiz, who battled his way to a 3-6 6-3 7-6[10-3] victory over Switzerland’s Henry Bernet, the AO 2025 junior boys' singles champion.

The 23-year-old Spaniard, who trained at the academy of two-time AO semifinalist David Ferrer, said he was proud of his level, particularly during the match tiebreak in which he served a pair of aces and made zero unforced errors.

In other action, Luxembourg’s Chris Rodesch, an accomplished University of Virginia alumni, toppled 15th seed Billy Harris 6-3 6-4. The result marks the end of the Australian summer of tennis for the 30-year-old Brit who took a set off AO 2023 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas at the United Cup this month.

“I’m so happy to be here,” Llamas Ruiz said. “I think that I can pass the quallies, we will see.”

Coincidentally, the Spaniard’s success has been replicated by at least two countrymen who he has trained with at Melbourne Park. On Tuesday, Martin Landaluce delivered a 7-5 6-3 upset over 10th seed Chun Hsin Tseng, while Rafael Jodar comfortably defeated Li Tu 6-2 6-1.

Elsewhere, seventh seed Alexander Blockx won his first AO qualifying match in three attempts without facing a break point in a comprehensive 6-3 6-4 victory over 33-year-old Italian Marco Cecchinato, thirteen years his elder.

“It feels amazing, I’m playing good tennis right now,” the Belgian AO 2023 junior boys' singles and doubles champion said.

“I have a lot of confidence, I’m just enjoying every match at the moment.”

Blockx captured the ATP Challenger title in Canberra last week, extending a run of form that led him to the final of the Next Gen ATP Finals in December.

“I’ve had a lot of matches, which helps me get the rhythm to start the beginning of the year quickly, to maybe have a bit more match rhythm than other players.”

“It’s something that I’ve missed the last couple of years and it’s really nice to have, to be honest.”

The assured 20-year-old acknowledged his ascent to a career-high ranking of No.95 this week. “It kind of rewards me for everything that I’ve done, so I’m really proud.”

On Court 8, Wu Yibing, China’s second-highest ranked male player at No.168, gave his passionate fans plenty to cheer about by triumphing 7-5 6-4 over Mitchell Krueger.

The 26-year-old, once ranked world No.54, struck 41 winners to Krueger’s 16 to vanquish the American who was contesting AO qualifying for the tenth time. In the second round, Wu faces Colombia’s Nicolas Mejia, who upset 12th seed Otto Virtanen 6-3 3-6 6-4.

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