Ewan Duff won the MIA Open final on his third attempt. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
A teenage Canberra tennis prodigy has achieved something even Nick Kyrgios couldn’t – winning the men’s singles title at the MIA Open, the Riverina tournament that has been running for more than 105 years.
Ewan Duff, 16, had finished runner-up to Danny Dossetor in each of the past two years. This time, he was crowned champion after Dossetor was forced to retire from the final with an ankle injury suffered in an earlier match. Duff was leading 5-4 when the match ended.
“Third time’s a charm. It feels good to finally get it done,” Duff said.
“I want to thank my barber, Novak, for giving me the perfect haircut before the final, as well as my coach, Frank Calabria and my dad, Jason.”
Novak Zeljkovic is a fellow player at the Hughes-based Rising Star Tennis Academy (RSTA), where he also doubles as the team’s unofficial hairdresser. Duff’s father, Jason, won the over-45s singles title at last year’s MIA Open.
Kyrgios competed at the MIA Open at a similar age in 2009 and 2010, reaching the semi-finals before launching his professional career.
Ewan relaxes with his barber Novak after the match. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Duff hopes the victory can be a stepping stone to bigger things. His goal is to play in the American Division I college system within two years — a pathway that has helped launch many professional careers.
“Last year was a good year. I won a bunch of tournaments, played a few nationals and got to number one in Australia for the under-16s,” he said.
The St Mary MacKillop College student was also named ACT Player of the Year in 2025 and is equally focused on life beyond tennis.
“I’ve been looking at sports psychology, nutrition or physiotherapy. I’d like to have a career in sport and stay connected to it,” he said.
Dossetor was chasing what would have been his 14th MIA Open singles title. Despite his injury, he strapped up his ankle and returned to claim the men’s doubles crown alongside Andy Watterson, defeating the RSTA pair of Duff and Lachlan Goodwin in the final.
Andy Watterson won the doubles final with Dossetor. Photo: Denny Fachin.
In the women’s singles, Barellan’s Jane Haeusler claimed her fourth consecutive title, defeating Albury’s Lara Meagher 7-5, 6-1 in the final.
“It was a close first set. I started well, then she came back, so it was good to get the win in a tight match,” Haeusler said.
The 21-year-old previously competed on the professional circuit but has put those ambitions on hold after a serious hip injury and subsequent surgery.
“I’m playing for fun now while I’m at university in Albury,” she said.
“It’s tough to come back from an injury like that and it would be a risk to return.”
Katie Favero and Sharmaine Delgado watched their daughters Milana and Lucy with pride. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
The MIA Open combines elite and junior tennis with more social and family events, and one of its most heartwarming moments came off the main stage.
Eleven-year-olds Milana Favero and Lucy Delgado teamed up in the doubles competition – exactly 30 years after their mothers, Katie Favero and Sharmaine Delgado, played together on the same courts.
“My mum has been an inspiration for me, and so has my coach, Danny,” Milana said.
“It was great playing with Lucy, and I hope to be back next year.”
Full results are available online courtesy of organiser Steve Longworth, who ran the tournament for the 50th time.