Extraordinary change in fortunes at Australian Open for Aussie tennis power couple after proposal – as lovers hit incredible milestones
The Australian Open has delivered a sharp turnaround in fortunes for newly engaged locals Maddison Inglis and Jason Kubler, with both recording significant career milestones within days of each other at Melbourne Park.
Inglis, a qualifier ranked outside the world’s top 150, surged into the third round to become the last Australian woman standing in the singles draw.
The 28-year-old defeated Germany’s Laura Siegemund in a three-set match to secure her first Australian Open main-draw win since 2022 and only the second third-round appearance of her career, earning a $328,000 payday in the process.
Kubler, meanwhile, produced a headline result in the men’s doubles, teaming with Marc Polmans to eliminate Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis in a late-night, all-Australian first-round clash.
The win came despite ongoing injury concerns and added another notable result to Kubler’s long comeback from repeated knee surgeries.
The on-court success followed a significant off-court moment for the pair, who became engaged in December during a break in Perth, with Rottnest Island the setting for the proposal.
Aussie tennis players Jason Kubler and Maddison Inglis got engaged on a recent trip to Rottnest Island in Western Australia
Since then, Inglis has become the last Aussie woman standing at the Australian Open after surging through to the third round
Kubler (left) is also thriving after the engagement, partnering with Marc Polmans to upset the Special K’s, Nick Kyrgiosand Thanasi Kokkinakis, the opening round of the doubles
‘It was super exciting. I didn’t anticipate the hour leading up. I was so nervous. That was crazy. Felt like we were on a first date again,’ Kubler said at the time.
‘Very happy I did it. Very happy Maddy said yes, which is good.’
Inglis said the timing and location made the moment particularly memorable.
‘It’s very exciting, especially having that time in Perth. It was our first time to Rotto,’ she said. ‘It was such a special spot to do it.’
The couple then represented Team Australia at the United Cup, where they spoke about how rarely their schedules allow them to play the same events.
‘Not often we can play the same tournaments. When we can, we try,’ Kubler said.
‘To start the year together playing for Australia as well is super special.’
Their momentum carried into Australian Open qualifying, where both players secured main-draw berths within an hour of each other.
Kubler has battled eight knee surgeries throughout his career while Inglis has battled for Grand Slam success in recent years
Inglis breaks down in tears after her emotional win over Germany’s Laura Siegemund to reach the second round of the Australian Open
Nick Kyrgios reacts during his doubles loss to Kubler and Polmans that has put his own career at a crossroads
Kubler said watching Inglis qualify was more rewarding than his own result.
‘To see her get over the hump and qualify – it’s just so cool,’ he said.
‘I would actually say I felt happier watching her do that than I did at the end of my match.’
Inglis later revealed she initially believed Kubler had been eliminated after seeing him drop the opening set.
‘I saw he lost the first set and then he was over to my match not too much longer after, so I thought he must have lost in straight sets,’ she said.
After her third-round breakthrough, Inglis referenced Kubler’s injury history in a social media post, writing: ‘Only took [Jason Kubler] 8 knee surgeries to get down on one.’
Kubler has undergone eight knee operations across his career, missing years of competition and falling out of the rankings at one stage.
His return has included winning the men’s doubles title at the Australian Open in 2023 and now another notable doubles result in 2026.
‘I wasn’t sure if I would be back,’ Kubler said earlier this month.
‘I played [the Open] a couple years ago, and it’s been a bit of a bumpy ride since then. But fortunately for me, today, it worked out and I get another chance.’
