MELBOURNE, Australia — Hady Habib has made history by becoming the first Lebanese player in the Open era to secure a spot in a Grand Slam men’s singles draw, an achievement that he approaches with determination as he prepares for the Australian Open.
After successfully navigating through the qualifying rounds at Melbourne Park, Habib clinched his place in the tournament by defeating France’s Clement Chidekh in a closely contested tiebreaker, with scores of 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8). The main event kicks off this Sunday, and Habib is poised to make his mark.
The 26-year-old athlete has experienced a swift ascent in his tennis career, having made his Olympic debut in Paris last year, where he faced off against the eventual silver medalist, Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion. This experience is one he will cherish for years to come.
In a significant milestone, late last year, Habib became the first champion from Lebanon on the ATP Challenger Tour, further emphasizing his rapid rise through the ranks of professional tennis.
Habib was born in Houston, Texas, but moved to Lebanon during his childhood, where he began playing tennis. He eventually returned to the United States in pursuit of his professional dreams and now feels a strong connection to representing the Lebanese spirit.
“I realize it’s just a sport,” Habib reflected in an interview, “but I feel a sense of duty to represent Lebanon. All the sacrifices I’ve made to reach this point echo the resilience of our nation.”
However, his personal triumphs come amid a challenging backdrop marked by the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Following a lengthy period of conflict, a fragile ceasefire was established on November 27, after nearly 14 months of warfare.
The current conflict escalated on October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah began launching rockets into Israel, a response to a deadly Hamas attack that also ignited violence in Gaza. The resultant Israeli military response has tragically resulted in over 4,000 deaths in Lebanon, including many civilians, displacing more than a million people at the peak of the crisis.
During these harrowing times, Habib has remained in contact with family and friends, ensuring their safety while grappling with the anguish of watching his home country endure such turmoil. “Each morning, I woke up during those hard times, reaching out to my loved ones to check that they were okay,” he shared. “It’s heartbreaking to witness what is happening to our nation.”
Despite these mental challenges, Habib expressed relief at the recent calming of violence and holds onto hope for peace as he approaches his match at Melbourne Park. His first-round opponent will be announced as the qualifiers are drawn into the main event.
