Mayo tennis talent to play at Junior Australian Open in Melbourne

Mayo tennis player Eoghan Jennings will compete at the 2026 Junior Australian Open in Melbourne this month, becoming the first Irish junior to compete at the event since 2022.

Jennings’ selection for the season’s opening Grand Slam at junior level marks a significant milestone in his development and in the continued progress of Irish players on the international pathway.

The 17-year-old from Westport will travel to Australia as part of his winter competition programme, taking on one of the strongest junior fields in the world.

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Jennings has been building momentum through recent international performances, and his Junior Australian Open appearance reflects consistent results on the ITF junior circuit and the ongoing work being done across his support network at home.

Proud parents Padraig & Ciara Jennings said of Eoghan’s achievement:
"We are delighted and very proud of Eoghan on qualifying to compete at the Junior Australian Open. A fantastic reward for years of hard work from Eoghan, his coaches, his wider support network and the continued backing from Tennis Ireland.
A key part of Jennings’ journey has been the role of his home club, Westport Tennis Club, which has supported his development from his earliest years in the sport."

Mary Ward of Westport Tennis Club, said:
"Westport Tennis Club is immensely proud of our junior player Eoghan Jennings in qualifying for the 2025 Australian Junior Open! Our globetrotting junior has clocked up thousands of air miles this year, collecting points and improving his rankings, in order to qualify for this first Grand Slam of the year.
Eoghan is an exceptional young man, on and off the court. He is a credit to his parents Ciara and Padraig and his coaches Garrett, Daniel and Jan. Special mention goes to his first coach, Dan Irimia, who spotted Eoghan’s talent a t the tender age of 5! We wish Eoghan and his coach Garrett Barry a safe trip and a successful tournament Down Under."

Garrett Barry, Eoghan’s Head Coach, said: "On behalf of Eoghan’s coaching team in Mayo and  Connacht, we are incredibly proud of his achievement. We hope that in reaching  his first Grand Slam, Eoghan will inspire players everywhere, especially those outside the traditional tennis strongholds, to believe that it can be done, no matter where you come from.
Tennis Ireland confirmed the news, noting the importance of Irish representation on the Grand Slam junior stage and the inspiration it provides to emerging players across the country."

Cian Blake, National Performance Development Director said: "We are absolutely delighted for Eoghan Jennings on qualifying for the 2026 Junior Australian Open — a remarkable milestone for him and for Irish tennis. He becomes our first junior to reach a Grand Slam qualifying spot since 2022, and it’s a testament to his talent, hard work and the belief he’s shown throughout his development."

Jennings will begin his Junior Australian Open campaign on Wednesday January 21st 2026, with draws and scheduling to be confirmed by tournament organisers.

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