Australian Open 2025 qualifiers: Polmans, Tomic and Hewitt in the running

Coach Nicole Pratt has been working with the Polmans player since June 2024. A former Australian number one, she says the qualifying rounds are among the most exciting moments of the tournament.

“The players are extremely motivated. They have a strong desire to win three matches to advance to the main draw, where they can earn valuable points and a significant amount of prize money,” she said.

Twenty-four other Australians will accompany Polmans during this qualifying phase, including former world number 17 Bernard Tomic, who has made an impressive jump from 813th to 213th place in the rankings since August 2022.

At 32, the former junior star trained on Sunday afternoon, preparing for his first match at the Australian Open since 2022.

Her time on court was brief, with partner Keely Hannah and two other members of her team watching from the sidelines. Tomic appeared to be in good spirits, greeting the media with a smile and a wave.

He and Polmans both hope to win their three qualifying matches next week in order to secure a place in the main draw, which begins on January 12. Tomic will face Jozef Kovalik of Slovakia.

“If they manage to qualify, that money can be reinvested in preparing them and their team for their trips abroad… it’s a crucial time,” Pratt says.

Tennis is an expensive sport. Between materials, equipment and tournament registration fees, not to mention coaches’ salaries, travel expenses add up quickly.

For some, these costs are not a problem. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have each amassed over US$100 million ($161 million) throughout their careers. On the women’s side, Serena Williams tops the list with US$95.8 million.

However, for a player who wants to break into the top 100, reaching the first round of a grand slam is of particular importance. This can increase your ranking and generate a considerable profit.

As of 2024, Polmans has won US$197,218 ($318,145) in prize money. This ranked him as the 231st biggest winner among over 4,000 players.

At this year’s Australian Open, players who manage to reach the first round of the singles draw will receive $132,000. The winner of the tournament will pocket $3.5 million.

“The Australian Open pays its players very well,” says Polmans. “We can finance our entire season with the winnings we have here.”

The seasons are busy. He spends a lot of time away from his parents and his partner, but travels with his younger brother Greg – a former player turned coach – as well as Pratt.

“I can’t wait to participate in the other grand slams,” confides Polmans. “That’s my goal…and I hope to have an injury-free season.”

“I’ve had a few little issues this season, so hopefully I can stay healthy and play a full season on tour.”

His team is constantly working on improving his game. Currently, it’s about developing his aggression with short shots and improving his transition to the net, while dealing with patellar tendon issues in his knee.

“I like to keep things simple and make sure we focus on priority areas… [C’est] which is the difference between winning and losing,” explains Pratt.

“But I think more than anything, it’s about instilling confidence in the players,” she adds. “Helping them come out with a clear goal of what they want to achieve.”

Polmans says he is no longer the young man who debuted on tour in 2015. But one thing remains constant.

“I love my job… I love traveling, I love participating in tournaments around the world. And I particularly enjoy playing here at home at the Australian Open,” he concludes.

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“I’ve played the main draw a few times…and I want to relive those moments. I’m very excited to go back.”