It increases the number of Australians in the main singles draws to 16 – eight in the men’s and eight in the women’s.
Hon’s wildcard comes off the back of a career-best season that saw her reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time – at the US Open – shortly before making her top-100 debut.
The 27-year-old Queenslander also qualified for Wimbledon, advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing and won two ITF W75 titles, in Brisbane and Romania.
“I am so incredibly grateful to Tennis Australia for the wildcard,” said Hon, who was ranked No. 94 in the world in mid-October before dropping to her current level of 119th.
“I’ve done my very best to avoid needing one, but I’m very grateful for their continued support. I’m proud to represent Australia and can’t wait to see how far I can go!”
Hijikata’s 2025 season culminated in doubles when he reached the Wimbledon final with Dutch partner David Pel. It was his second Grand Slam doubles final, after he and compatriot Jason Kubler won the AO 2023 title.
In singles, Hijikata finished the season strongly with a victory in the Playford Challenger – which saw him rise to number 114 in the world – and previously won early rounds at Wimbledon, Indian Wells and Miami.
Hijikata, whose best Grand Slam singles finish was a fourth-round finish at the 2023 US Open, will be competing in his fourth consecutive AO main draw.
“I am very grateful to have another opportunity to play in the main draw of the AO,” said Hijikata.
“There’s nothing better than competing in a home Slam and I’ve had some of my best memories in Melbourne. I can’t wait for the electric atmosphere in January.”
Another fast finisher in 2025 was Preston, who have won 31 of their last 37 games since the start of September.
During the same period, she improved her ranking from No. 259 to No. 199 after collecting three Australian Pro Tour singles titles – in Wagga Wagga, Dawin and Brisbane – from four finals.
The 20-year-old, a former top-10 junior, will make his third appearance in the Grand Slam main draw after competing in the Australian and US Opens in 2024.
“I am extremely grateful and excited for the opportunity to play the main draw again in Melbourne,” Preston said. “It means so much and I can’t wait to get out there and compete.”
Gibson, meanwhile, enjoyed a late-season highlight when she was selected in the Australian Billie Jean King cup team for the first time as part of the Australian Play-off campaign in Hobart.
The following week she traveled to Sydney and won the Australian Pro Tour title, one of three ITF titles she won in 2025 at W50 level or above.
The West Australian also won her first Grand Slam main draw at AO 2025, qualified for Wimbledon, reached the second round of the WTA Cleveland tournament and scored several impressive results at WTA 125 level.
“I am extremely pleased to have received a main draw wildcard for the Australian Open and am very grateful to Tennis Australia for giving me this wonderful opportunity,” said Gibson, who peaked at world No. 105 in August.
“I had the best experience at the beginning of this year winning my first main draw match at AO, so I can’t wait to experience the great atmosphere of the home crowd again in January.”
Wildcards for the main draw have also been awarded to French players Dear Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah And Kyrian jacketas announced by the French Tennis Federation.
Rakotomanga Rajaonah, 20, recently broke through for her first WTA title in Sao Paulo and is closing in on the top 100 after starting outside the top 350 in 2025. Jacquet, meanwhile, reached his first ATP-level quarter-final in Metz last month, shortly before reaching a career-high 137th place.
More wildcards will be announced ahead of the 2026 Australian Open main draw, which starts on January 18.
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