On November 29, 2025, the finals of the 2026 Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-Off were held in Chengdu. Sichuan and Chengdu representatives, members of the Chinese and Australian sports communities, and other guests attended the welcome ceremony and watched the matches. Acting Consul General of Australia in Chengdu Paul Salisbury, Director of Government, Social Impact, and Stakeholder Relations of Tennis Australia Vicki Reid, Executive Deputy General Manager of Luzhou Laojiao Co., Ltd. Tang Dongliang, and Victoria’s Commissioner to Greater China Leigh Howard addressed the audience during the welcome ceremony.

 

 

In his address, Acting Consul General of Australia in Chengdu Paul Salisbury noted that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to Chengdu in July this year marks a pivotal step in the development of Australia-China relations. During his visit, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Tennis Australia jointly announced the return of the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-Off to Chengdu. Australia is a prominent country in sports, and its business community and broader society hold a common passion for sports and a shared commitment to presenting world-class sports events. Sports, transcending linguistic and cultural boundaries, unite people with friendships and mutual learning, and the Wildcard Play-Off serves as a vivid example of how sports can bring the peoples of the two countries closer. Given the friendly relations between Sichuan and Victoria, as well as the friendly cooperative relations between Chengdu and Melbourne, hosting the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-Off in Chengdu is particularly fitting. Acting Consul General Paul Salisbury expressed the Consulate General’s pleasure in supporting the Australian Open and anticipation of hosting more sports events to further strengthen Australia-China relations.

 

 

Upon the conclusion of speeches, speakers and invited guests took a group photo with the champion trophies of the Australian Open. Following the welcome ceremony, nearly 100 invited guests watched the finals of the men’s and women’s singles.

 

 

After six days of intense competition, the 2026 Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-Off concluded successfully in Chengdu. Chinese player Bu Yunchaokete and renowned Kazakhplayer Zarina Diyas won the men’s and women’s singles events, respectively. Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha and Pruchya Isaro won the men’s doubles, while Momoko Kobori and Ayano Shimizu won the women’s doubles.

 

Edited by Zhang Yuanlin

Source: Chengdu Discovery