Seventeen-year-old Žiga Šeško has etched his name in Slovenian sports history by becoming the first Slovenian male junior to win a Grand Slam singles title. At the 2026 Australian Open in Melbourne, the seventh-seeded Šeško staged an impressive comeback to defeat American Keaton Hance 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on 1 February. Reflecting on the victory, he said, “Winning a Grand Slam is what every kid dreams of. To actually achieve it feels incredible, and I’m sure tomorrow it will feel even more special.”
Šeško’s triumph represents a landmark moment for Slovenian tennis, which had previously seen junior Grand Slam success only in the girls’ competition, with Mima Jaušovec winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the 1970s, and Katarina Srebotnik capturing the Wimbledon girls’ title in 1998.
During the tournament, Šeško limited his phone use to stay focused, and admitted he hadn’t fully grasped the significance of his achievement until after the final.
Looking ahead, Šeško is set to step into senior competition, with the chance to enter men’s qualifying at next year’s Australian Open. Before that, he will represent Slovenia in the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Turkey, having flown home immediately after his Melbourne victory to join the national team.
