In a moment of pure emotion at Melbourne Park, Australian tennis star Storm Hunter has fought her way back from a career-threatening injury to qualify for the 2026 Australian Open singles main draw.
From Doubt to Triumph on Court
Less than a year after fearing her professional future was slipping away, the 31-year-old West Australian secured her place with a straight-sets victory over American Taylor Townsend. The 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 win on Thursday marked a powerful milestone in her long road to recovery.
An emotional Hunter dropped her head and wiped away tears as the final ace landed, a stark contrast to the tears of fear she shed just months earlier. In April 2024, she suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon, an injury that left her mid-match wondering if she would ever move freely on a tennis court again.
A Gruelling Path Back to Form
"Honestly, this meant everything, meant the world to me," Hunter confessed after the match. She described a difficult return to singles competition in May 2025, where she struggled profoundly with discomfort and self-doubt about her power and movement.
Her resolve was tested during the qualifying match itself. After serving for the first set at 6-5 and missing a set point, she had to regroup to edge a tense tiebreak before finding her rhythm to dominate the second set.
Hunter's comeback is all the more remarkable given her historic run at the 2024 Australian Open, where, as a qualifier, she reached the third round—the deepest run by an Australian women's qualifier at the tournament in 39 years.
Looking Ahead with Renewed Freedom
Now ranked at a career-high singles position of world number 114, Hunter believes she is playing at a similar standard to her 2024 peak. Crucially, she says she no longer thinks about her Achilles when she steps onto the court. "I could just go out and play freely," she stated, crediting her support team for maintaining her positivity during the arduous rehabilitation.
Her first-round opponent will be Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, with the match scheduled for Sunday as the tournament begins. This qualification also bolsters the Australian contingent in the women's draw, capping a strong start to the season for Hunter, who has already represented Australia in the United Cup.
Reflecting on the uncertainty of last year, where she worked in media commentary during the Open while managing limited practice, Hunter framed Thursday's win as the culmination of immense personal perseverance. "Yeah, it's just an amazing place to be in," she said, her focus now firmly on staying present and playing with the hard-won freedom she has regained.
