'A dream come true': Walton's unconventional road to professional tennis

Ahead of his Davis Cup debut, Adam Walton's dream to represent Australia is close — a world away from the 27-year-old's unconventional beginnings.

Growing up in the small North Queensland town of Home Hill, about 1,200 kilometres north of Brisbane, Walton and his older brother, Jack, were sport mad.

The brothers played any game they could get their hands on, from rugby league to swimming and eventually tennis.

"My brother is 15 months older than me; we were very competitive growing up. It wasn't just tennis; it would be any sport. We even 'scissors, paper, rock' for the dishes," he said.

Walton picked up a racquet at the age of five and trained with his brother at the tennis court tucked inside the local race track at Home Hill.

They would wait for the horses to pass before crossing the course to the courts, so as not to disturb the animals.

Adam Walton discovered his love of tennis through his older brother, Jack. (Supplied)

"As a little kid, I didn't really dream of becoming a tennis player. I was never a top Australian junior; I never travelled to the junior slams," Walton, the current world number 93, said ahead of the French Open this year.

Walton celebrates victory over Daniil Medvedev during a first-round match at the 2026 French Open. (Getty Images: Dan Istitene)

Instead of entering the junior pro circuit, specifically the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, which is considered the conventional pathway to professional tennis, Walton waited till after university to turn pro.

He jumped at the opportunity to study and play at the University of Tennessee in the US, using the time to grow as a player.

"I would have been no good at 18, trying to play professional tennis," he said.

"I've always been a bit of a late bloomer; I needed to grow up physically and mentally. Once I finished university, I was definitely ready."

Walton has spent the week training in Brisbane for the Davis Cup and will next head to China for the Hangzhou Open. (Supplied: Tennis Australia)

In just two years, he was able to crack the world's top 100 in ATP singles rankings.

Since then, he has taken down former world number one Daniil Medvedev in five sets at the French Open, won five singles titles and four doubles titles on the Challenger Tour and most recently earned a call-up to represent the Australian team in the Davis Cup.

Walton was awarded his gold Davis Cup jacket by captain Lleyton Hewitt, becoming the 118th player to represent Australia. (Supplied: Tennis Australia)

"Whether I play or whoever plays, either way I'll do my best for Australia and I just can't wait to do it here in Brisbane, too."

Australia's tie against Poland in the Davis Cup will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane.