Under the lights of Rod Laver Arena, where careers are made and memories linger for decades, Ashwin “Ash” Vijayaragavan will step onto a stage he has never played on – but has dreamed about for years.
At 37, the South Australian coach is one of eight Australians to qualify for the AO 1 Point Slam on January 14, a pre-Australian Open spectacle that distils tennis down to its most brutal truth: one serve, one rally, one point, one million dollars. Amateurs and professionals collide in a sudden-death shootout where nerve matters as much as technique.
For Ash, the journey to Melbourne has already felt improbable.
Born in Doha, Qatar and raised in Hyderabad, India, tennis was never the plan. “Cricket was my first sport,” he says. “Tennis was just a hobby. I went with my brother to hit some balls.” That hobby turned serious at 13, when his parents noticed something different. By 17, Ash was the No.1 under-18 junior in India, rising quickly through national tournaments and representing his country on the junior stage – including the Australian Open juniors in 2007.
He went on to study at the University of Texas at Austin, balancing four years of college tennis with an education in finance that broadened his horizons. After graduating, Ash chased the professional dream, spending four years on the circuit and cracking the top 500 before injuries intervened.
One of his proudest moments came in 2013, when he represented India in the Davis Cup alongside childhood idol Leander Paes. “That was probably one of my bigger achievements in tennis,” Ash says. “It was pretty exciting to be part of the same team with him.”
Injuries eventually forced a pivot. “I didn’t see myself doing anything apart from tennis,” he says. Coaching became the next chapter – first with Sri Lanka’s Davis Cup team, then running an academy in Colombo, before returning to Australia to complete a sports management Masters qualification at Deakin University in Melbourne.
A twist of fate brought him to South Australia. Tennis coaching was added to Australia’s skilled migration list, and Ash relocated to Adelaide, where life settled into something deeper than rankings and results. He married his Sri Lankan sweetheart, Tania Clark, became a stepfather to two children, and recently bought a house. “If I win a million dollars, I’ll pay it off,” he says.
Until now, Ash had never played inside Rod Laver Arena. He had only watched -Federer versus Nishikori in 2017 — absorbing the aura from the stands. That changes during AO Opening Week.
His qualification came through a grassroots pathway that mirrors the AO 1 Point Slam’s ethos. Ash first won a 32-player knockout at Tea Tree Tennis Club in Adelaide, then survived a nerve-shredding State Championship at Peake Gardens on December 20, defeating five male opponents in a 16-player mixed draw.
“Honestly, just not to miss and try to be as consistent as I can, because that was probably one of my strengths when I was playing as well,” he says of his strategy.
There were moments he nearly didn’t survive. “I was basically surviving every match,” he admits. A lucky forehand winner in round one. A desperate return that clipped the line against a 6’4” teenager with a booming serve. “My return fell right on the line, so I was pretty lucky.”
Ash describes himself as a counterpuncher, once serving at 191km/h on tour, now relying on patience, consistency, and a sharp passing shot. If he draws one of the game’s biggest stars, he knows his choice: serve first. “I would probably have some chance of staying in the rally at least.”
To prepare, he’ll keep coaching, keep training, and play a local tournament to stay sharp.
Behind the scenes, Tania has been the driving force. “She entered me,” Ash says. “She keeps telling me to play more because I love it so much.”
“I missed out on playing a professional Grand Slam,” he says. “But life is giving you a second chance, and I’m going to take it.”
The nerves are real. “I’ve had sleepless nights,” he admits. “I just hope I don’t double fault.”
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