Lebanese tennis player Hady Habib has become the first Lebanese to qualify for the Australian Open main draw, which he has deemed the biggest accomplishment of his career.
A process that was not quite easy for the 26-year-old on route to Melbourne. Habib is outside top 300 but he managed to get to the qualifying rounds, which shows a lot of tenacity. His look of appearing is historic that has benefited Lebanese tennis and it has inspired the fans and young players across the country.
I have never realised a dream like this before,” said Habib after his first match. Actually, standing in for Lebanon in this stage, one of the largest tournaments, could actually be considered as a privilege. It’s a hard journey without a doubt but times like that make it all so worthwhile.
In the first round, Habib had a quite tough match with the opponent who had a higher rating and Habib performed very well and got the approval of commentators and fans. Thus, despite the failure in straight sets to Habib, there remained fight and, perhaps, resilience on the court, and Habs were even clapping for him, the standing portion of the crowd.
Tennis as a sport is, however, in its infancy in Lebanon and has only recently started finding a foothold on the international stage, Habib has been the light at the end of the tunnel for the sport in the region. In terms of better structures and more potential Lebanon has far less in tenis than those powers so Habib’s achievements in that sport are even more amazing.
This success has not gone unnoticed by other players and officials, and even Habib himself was successful. The official page of the Lebanese Tennis Federation also congratulated him: Today, the Lebanese sports achievements have been intensified by Hady’s success, they mentioned. He is a hardworking man aiming and working towards success, who is a role model for generations to come.
He attributes his success to years of sacrifice and support from his family. “I wouldn’t be here without my family’s belief in me. They pushed me to keep going when things got tough,” he said.
Looking ahead, Habib hopes that this momentum enables him to climb the rankings further in a shorter time and represent Lebanon at the highest level. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “I want to keep pushing myself, not just for me, but for my country and everyone back home who’s cheering me on.
Hady Habib’s breakthrough in the Australian Open signals a new chapter in the history of tennis in Lebanon, proving that global dreams are achievable even from the smallest of nations.
