Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur is through to the second round of the French Open after defeating Belarusian Ilya Ivashka at Roland Garros on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old, Australia’s No. 1 men’s player, bettered Ivashka 6-1, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 on court six, setting up a second-round clash with Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
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No. 18 seed de Minaur needed two hours and 45 minutes to seal the victory, having made nine unforced errors in the space of four games to gift Ivashka the second set.
Despite the momentary blip, de Minaur held his nerve to take down the world No. 73 in four sets, progressing through to the French Open’s second round for the third time in seven attempts.
“I‘m not in the same place I was three or four years ago, where I would come here and kind of just hope for a good draw because I knew it was going to be tough,” de Minaur said after the win.
“Now I feel like I can play well and I can take it to anyone who is in front of me.
“It can get frustrating (playing on clay) at times. It‘s important to be as chilled out as you can and kind of move on.
“That‘s what I think I did. I was a little bit vocal in the second set, the end of the second set. And part of what I think changed the whole match was just me kind of being a little bit more quiet and just focused.”
For the first time in 23 years, there will be four Australians in the second round of the French Open men’s singles competition, with compatriots Thanasi Kokkinakis and Jason Kubler also winning their opening matches. The winner of Tuesday’s clash between Jordan Thompson or Max Purcell will become the fourth.
Meanwhile, Australian Storm Hunter defeated Spain’s Nuria Parrizas-Diaz 4-6 6-2 6-4 in the first round of the women’s singles competition.
“I just think they’re great tennis players,” de Minaur said of his fellow Australians.
“We’ve got a lot of guys that can be competitive week in, week out and as soon as they get in this kind of situation every week, they’ll realise they belong here.”
Australia’s Chris O’Connell, who was battling side strain, went out in straight sets following a 6-0, 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Japan’s Taro Daniel. Alexei Popyrin also lost his first-round clash, bettered by Russia’s Aslan Karatsev 6-3, 6-7, 6-1, 6-2.
Elsewhere, Serbian champion Novak Djokovic kicked off his French Open campaign with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 straight sets victory over debutant Aleksandar Kovacevic.
“It’s always a pleasure to come back here, one of the best tournaments in the world,” Djokovic said.
“I’m very motivated to go far here, all the way I hope.”
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz eased past Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli in straight sets, while Canadian young gun Felix Auger-Aliassime suffered a shock defeat to Italian veteran Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
NORRIE FUMES AT HINDRANCE CALL
British No. 1 Cameron Norrie has vented his frustration after a dubious umpiring call in his first-round victory over France’s Benoit Paire at Roland Garros on Monday.
During the second set of the thrilling contest, Norrie nailed a forehand winner and grunted before the ball landed. To the surprise of many, chair umpire Nico Helwerth awarded the point to Paire for a “hindrance” call, setting up a break point that the local hero won.
Paire ultimately clinched the second set, but Norrie prevailed, winning 7-5, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in three hours and 33 minutes to book his spot in the second round.
A similar incident happened the previous day to compatriot Dan Evans, who was knocked out in the first round by Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis after he was inexplicably foot-faulted by a line judge.
“Both of us didn’t know why he called it. We were confused. It was a grunt,” Norris fumed after the match.
“I don’t know why he felt it was necessary to get involved there.
“Especially as he gave me no warning whatsoever and it was a big point. It ultimately changed the momentum of the match.
“I’m here playing tennis, competing as hard as I can, and then he does that, on a pretty big point.
“Maybe if I spoke to him now he’ll think he’s wrong, but at the end of the day, I’m fighting my a*** off and one call could obviously influence the match. It changed the momentum, for sure.
“For me, it was strange. He must have thought that I said something, and I think for him to get involved there was absurd. Even with Evo yesterday, I watched that, and he was nowhere near foot-faulting and the guy is calling him on the other side of the net.
“There is no warning. There is no, like, ‘You‘re getting a little bit close to the line here’. With me, maybe, ‘You’re grunting too long on one point’.
“We‘re all competing as hard as we can, and I did my best to try and not let it bother me. I’ve never been called for that before, ever. I think it’s unacceptable. If he makes a decision wrong, there’s no consequences. For me, if I do something wrong, there’s consequences.”
Norris will face France’s Lucas Pouille in the second round.