Aussie Open boys' semis: Tabata to face Slovenian history-maker Sesko
Surely the best match so far at the 2026 Australian Open Junior Championships boys' singles draw began on 1573 Arena just after 11am on Friday and finished as the clock struck 2pm.
It was, according to the victor – Ryo Tabata from Japan – the longest match of his career..
The final scoreline against Germany’s Jamie Mackenzie read 6-7(3) 6-4 7-6(7) – an immense encounter during which 17-year-old Tabata saved four match points when serving at 5-6 in the final set.
Did he still believe he could prevail at that stage?
"Yes," said Tabata emphatically. “Yeah, yeah, I knew I could do it because I was serving. I was thinking I could do it.”
Both boys walloped their serves and rained down aces (12 to Mackenzie and 11 to Tabata) throughout, but in the end it was Tabata's marginally greater variety of play that proved the difference. The unforced error count was telling: Mackenzie's 63 compared to Tabata's 38.
Despite the tense encounter he had just been embroiled in, Tabata was extremely calm post-match and happy to chat.
According to the teenager, last year’s experience of reaching the semi-finals at the Roland Garros Junior Championships will be of benefit in his last-four clash with Slovenia's Ziga Sesko here.
“I think I will be okay," said Tabata. "I was so nervous at Roland Garros last year. Now, I feel more like I can win.
“I was nervous in the first set today. But I have played here (1573 Arena) before and I was thinking ‘just hit the ball, just hit it'.”
Remarkably, there was a longer match – by two minutes – taking place on Margaret Court Arena where Kazakhstan's Zangar Nurlanuly came from a set down to defeat Hong Kong’s Kai Thompson 3-6 7-6(4) 6-4.
Nurlanuly, who hits regularly with women's singles finalist Elena Rybakina, will now face Keaton Hance of the United States in the semis.
On a day where there was drama at every turn, Hance overcome Chinese Taipei’s Kuan-Shou Chen 7-6(4) 6-4. The diminutive Chen hails from Tainan, the oldest city in his nation, and is a battler. He has had a good tournament and will be missed.
The fight for the final semi-final berth was settled out on 1573 Arena where Slovenia’s Sesko overcame his friend and doubles partner Luis Guto Miguel of Brazil 6-2 7-6(5).
Sesko is the first player – boy or girl – from Slovenia to reach a Junior Grand Slam singles semi-final since 1999.
The 17-year-old is also the first ever boy from Slovenia to reach a Junior Grand Slam singles semi-final. Sesko has travelled to Melbourne as part of the ITF-operated Grand Slam Player Development Programme Touring Team.
A full list of results from the 2026 Australian Open Junior Championships is available here.