James Duckworth

James Duckworth (born 21 January 1992) is an Australian professional tennis player.

He has a career-high Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) singles ranking of World No. 46 achieved on 31 January 2022 and No. 185 in doubles achieved on 10 February 2020.

Duckworth played his first ITF under-18 tournament in December 2005 as a 13-year-old, the event was held in Perth and Duckworth lost in the first round to Sebastian Bell.

Duckworth entered his first professional tournament in September 2006 as a 14-year-old in Happy Valley, South Australia where he was defeated in the first round of qualifying.

Duckworth's first big result came in December 2007 when he made his first final in Manila, Philippines but had to retire in the third set against Francis Casey Alcantara.

He entered his second pro tournament in September 2007; the event was held in Sawtell, New South Wales, and Duckworth made it to the final round of qualifying, but fell at the last hurdle.

In November 2008, Duckworth received a wildcard into a Futures tournament held in Perth and made the most of his opportunity; he recorded his first main draw victory in the first round.

He followed up the victory with a surprise win over the fifth seed.

In the quarterfinals, he fell to fourth seed and eventual champion Andrew Coelho.

The following week, Duckworth received another wildcard into an event held in Sorrento, Western Australia, but could not keep the form going as he fell in the first round to James Lemke.

Despite entering four Australian Futures toward the end of 2009, Duckworth only won one match and finished 2009 ranked no. 1712.

As a junior, Duckworth enjoyed a successful career which included winning three titles and reaching the semifinals of the 2010 French Open.

Duckworth was born in Sydney.

He attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School, where he was on the school tennis first team from Year 7 and went on to win several AAGPS Premierships.

He was offered a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport, where he was able to further develop his tennis.

Duckworth is a keen supporter of the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League.

Duckworth's first title came in August 2010 at the Oceania Closed Championship held in Fiji, he beat fellow Australian Maverick Banes in the final.

Out of the nine junior tournaments Duckworth entered in 2010 he managed to reach three finals that resulted in two titles won in Kuching, Malaysia and Manila, Philippines respectively.

Duckworth's best junior result came at 2010 Roland Garros Junior Championships where he reached the semi-finals.

He reached as high as No. 7 in the combined world rankings in July 2010.

The 2010 season began for Duckworth with a qualifying wildcard into his hometown ATP event in Sydney where he lost in the first round to fellow Australian Marinko Matosevic 1–6, 3–6.

He also received a wildcard into the qualifying tournament of the 2010 Australian Open but fell in the first round to Somdev Devvarman 2–6, 1–6.

While not competing in junior tournaments Duckworth played several futures tournaments held in Australia, Netherlands, USA and New Zealand.

His best result came in November when he reached the semi-finals of a futures tournament held in New Zealand.

Duckworth finished the year ranked 742 in the ATP rankings.

Duckworth began the year playing in the 2011 Brisbane International and the 2011 Australian Open qualifying tournaments after receiving wildcards into each event.

Following the Australian summer series of tournaments Duckworth headed to Europe in hopes of boosting his ranking.

Duckworth's choice of tournaments would prove successful with four titles and two runners-up in tournaments held across Poland and Italy.

His latest futures title was in Este Padova where he defeated Australian Jason Kubler en route to the final against Daniele Giorgini.

These results enabled him to enter the top 300 on 29 August 2011 and he became one of Australia's top 10 players.

Following a successful 2011 season Duckworth was granted main draw wildcards into the Brisbane International, Apia International Sydney and the Australian Open.

Duckworth capped off the year by reaching the final of the 2012 Australian Open Men's Wildcard Playoff, falling to Marinko Matosevic 6–4, 6–1, 6–2.

in January 2012, in the first round of his first ATP main-draw event at the 2012 Brisbane International Duckworth drew Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.

After trailing 0–4 in the first set Duckworth came back and won his first ever ATP match 6–4, 6–4.

In the second round of Brisbane Duckworth fell to world no. 12 Gilles Simon 3–6, 5–7 on Pat Rafter Arena.

In the 2012 Apia International Sydney Duckworth fell to qualifier and eventual champion Jarkko Nieminen 2–6, 2–6.

On his Grand Slam debut at the 2012 Australian Open, Duckworth drew Estonian Jürgen Zopp in the first round and came out victorious in straight sets 6–3, 6–4, 6–4.

In the second round Duckworth faced world number 9 Janko Tipsarević and got off to a quick start taking the first set.

Duckworth would eventually lose in four sets 6–3, 2–6, 6–7, 4–6.

Duckworth represented Australia in tennis at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 ATP Cup.