When it comes to making waves at the Australian Open, sometimes the most unexpected results capture everyone's attention—and this year is no different. But here's where it gets controversial: can Australian doubles players really have their moment in the sun, or are surprises like these just fleeting flashes in the tournament?
In front of a lively crowd at ANZ Arena, with Australian legend Pat Cash watching closely, rising Australian talents Li Tu and James McCabe demonstrated that they are more than capable of defying expectations at their home Grand Slam. The duo, both wildcard entrants making their first appearance in the doubles at this event, started their campaign in Canberra-style fashion—by defeating the top-seeded pair, Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, in straight sets on Friday. This victory not only electrified the crowd but also set the stage for a potential showdown with fellow Australians Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans, who are currently vying for a spot against Switzerland’s Jakub Paul and British player Marcus Willis in the next round.
Tu and McCabe's first-time pairing proved to be a winning formula, as they edged out their opponents with a clean 7-6(5) 6-4 victory over a match that lasted just 85 minutes. And it’s worth noting that Cash and Glasspool are the reigning Wimbledon men's doubles champions, having clinched the title at last year’s final against Australian Rinky Hijikata and Dutch partner David Pel.
While their doubles performance is making headlines, both McCabe and Tu experienced setbacks in the singles events—McCabe was ousted in the first round of qualifying in New South Wales, and Tu exited in the second round in South Australia. Yet, their doubles adventures give them a promising chance to extend their stay in Melbourne and gain valuable match experience.
Tu, who shared his thoughts with tennis.com.au earlier this week, expressed gratitude for the opportunity: “I’m very grateful for this chance,” he said. “I’m just excited to go out there and enjoy the moment. It’s another opportunity I don’t take lightly.”
Both players reached new career heights in singles rankings in mid-2025, with McCabe reaching No.164 and Tu peaking at No.160. The 29-year-old Tu, after taking a break for several months following the birth of his daughter Elody, is now working closely with a team that includes coaches Daniel Buberis, former Australian player Luke Saville, and recently appointed coach Pat Cash. His focus remains on improving his singles game, with aspirations of climbing higher in the rankings.
“I know my game has definitely improved across the board,” Tu shared. “It’s about putting everything together during a match, and I truly believe I can do that.”
For now, however, their primary goal is success in doubles. McCabe and Tu aspire to become the third all-Australian pair in the last five years to win the men's doubles title at the Australian Open, following Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios in 2022 and Rinky Hijikata with Jason Kubler in 2023. Despite injuries sidelining Kokkinakis and Kyrgios throughout much of 2025, they made an exciting run in their AO 2026 opener, pushing highly-ranked opponents in a thrilling three-set contest before ultimately falling to fellow Australians.
And as the tournament progresses, fans and analysts alike will be watching to see if these emerging players can continue their surprising run—challenging the traditional powerhouses and potentially rewriting the story of Australian doubles tennis. But does this surprise run signal a turning tide in Australian tennis, or are we witnessing a rare anomaly? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments—are these players on the rise, or is this just a flash in the pan?
