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Kazakhstan’s rising tennis prospect Zangar Nurlanuly has leapt 12 places to No.12 in the ITF junior rankings, earning the No.10 seed and a main-draw start for the Australian Open juniors in Sydney from January 24 to February 1, 2026 — a timely boost that elevates him into the circle of contenders.

This was reported by the Infohub.kz news agency.

Ranking surge puts Nurlanuly among the favorites

The 17-year-old jumped to world No.12 in the latest weekly ITF junior list, rising 12 spots in a single update. The move underscores his momentum heading into the first Grand Slam of the 2026 season.

Australian Open juniors: dates, seed and draw

Nurlanuly will be the No.10 seed at the Australian Open juniors, which runs January 24–February 1 in Sydney. As a seeded player, he will begin in the main draw.

US Open breakthrough offers a form guide

Last fall, Nurlanuly reached the US Open juniors semifinal — a landmark for Kazakhstan — defeating several top-10 juniors along the way. He was halted by Bulgaria’s Ivan Ivanov, who now tops the ITF junior rankings.

Background and training base

Born and raised in Almaty, Nurlanuly has spent recent years living and training in Europe to streamline travel to international events. Along his rapid ascent, he has met Novak Djokovic and trained with Jannik Sinner — experiences that reflect his growing integration into elite tennis environments.

Why it matters

An early-season ranking climb and a top-10 seed suggest Nurlanuly is prepared to post consistent results on the world stage. His Australian Open campaign will offer the first clear read on his 2026 trajectory.