In a thrilling upset that has captured the attention of fans and tennis enthusiasts alike, Australian duo Li Tu and James McCabe have made headlines at the Australian Open 2026 by defeating the top-seeded pair, Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool. This match took place at the ANZ Arena, where they were cheered on by Australian tennis icon Pat Cash and an enthusiastic crowd.
Tu and McCabe kicked off their campaign in Melbourne with a straight-sets victory, showcasing their talent and determination by winning 7-6(5), 6-4 in just one hour and 25 minutes. This unexpected win sets the stage for a potential showdown against fellow Australians Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans, who will compete against Switzerland’s Jakub Paul and Britain’s Marcus Willis for a chance to advance to the third round.
As first-time partners at this prestigious Grand Slam event and granted wildcards into the tournament, Tu and McCabe's victory over the reigning Wimbledon men's doubles champions demonstrates their capability to excel under pressure. Cash and Glasspool had previously triumphed at Wimbledon, where they defeated Australia’s Rinky Hijikata and Dutch player David Pel in the 2025 final.
Unfortunately, both McCabe and Tu saw their singles journeys cut short during the qualifying rounds at AO 2026—New South Wales' McCabe was eliminated in the first round, while South Australian Tu made it to the second round. However, their success in doubles offers them the chance to extend their stay in Melbourne and continue competing at a high level.
Reflecting on the opportunity, Tu expressed his gratitude in an interview with tennis.com.au earlier this week, stating, "I’m very grateful for the opportunity. Just looking forward to getting out there and having a bit of fun. It’s obviously another opportunity, which I don’t take for granted."
Both players achieved personal bests in singles rankings mid-2025, with McCabe reaching world No.164 and Tu peaking at No.160. Notably, Tu took some time off from the tour last year following the birth of his daughter, Elody, and is now collaborating with a team that includes Daniel Buberis, Luke Saville, and newly appointed coach Pat Cash, as he strives for further improvement in his singles performance.
"I know that my game has improved for sure, like all the individual parts," Tu remarked confidently. "It's just about putting it together in a match, and you know, I'm very confident that I can do it."
At this stage, the duo's primary focus is on excelling in doubles, aiming to become the third all-Australian pair to claim the men’s doubles trophy in the last five years. They would join the ranks of Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios, who won in 2022, and Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler, who took home the title in 2023.
Kokkinakis and Kyrgios, despite spending much of the 2025 season recovering from injuries, faced Kubler and Marc Polmans in an exciting match at KIA Arena during their AO 2026 debut, but ultimately lost in three sets to their countrymen.
This narrative of resilience and determination continues to unfold at the Australian Open, raising questions about the future of these talented players: Will Tu and McCabe be able to capitalize on their momentum and make history for Australian doubles tennis? What are your thoughts on their chances moving forward? Share your opinions in the comments!
