Thibaut Simon, Media365, published on Sunday January 12, 2025 at 11:55 p.m.
At 26, Hady Habib left his mark on the history of tennis and his country. By beating the Chinese Yunchaokete Bu (67th) in three sets (7-6 [4]6-4, 7-6 [6]), he became the first Lebanese to win a Grand Slam match.
The performance will be a landmark! Hady Habib, 219th ATP player in the world, made history by becoming the first Lebanese player to win a match in a Grand Slam tournament. He won in the first round of the Australian Open in three sets against the Chinese Bu, 67th in the ranking. By qualifying for the main draw, he joined the performance achieved in 1962 by Karim Fawaz at the US Open. But this victory will surely change a lot of things in the player's life. In 2024, he had already become the first Lebanese to participate in the Olympic Games by competing in a match against Carlos Alcaraz. Then, he won a Challenger at the end of the year in Temuco, while he was ranked 320th in the ATP rankings. In 2025, Habib is therefore qualified for the second round of the Melbourne internationals.
Born in Houston, Habib chose Lebanon
Representing Lebanon is natural for him. Born to an American-Iranian mother and a Lebanese father, Habib chose the Lebanese selection. Since 2015, he has worn the colors of his country in the Davis Cup. But between the United States and Lebanon, the question does not arise. “People ask me why I chose to represent Lebanon, but for me the decision was easy. Regardless of the difficulties the country is going through, I am so proud to be Lebanese.” explained the player. After living for 6 to 12 years in Lebanon, Habib returned to the United States to escape the war. A graduate in sports management, the 26-year-old always wanted to become a professional. A dream that came true and that he continues to cultivate in Australia. In an exceptional atmosphere during his first round, Habib probably experienced the best day of his life as he indicated. But the adventure continues.
Humbert in the second round
After the euphoria, Habib must focus on his passion and continue his progress. “Obviously there's a lot of tension, but I try to stay focused on what I can control. I think about tactics, where I should put the ball. I try to be in the moment.” explains Habib. After facing the Spanish prodigy, the Lebanese player dreams of competing against Novak Djokovic. While waiting to one day face the Serbian, Habib will face Frenchman Ugo Humbert.
