Aussie hopes boosted by Roland-Garros wildcards

1 year ago 102

Australia's singles stocks astatine Roland-Garros person received a boost with Kim Birrell and Thanasi Kokkinakis receiving main-draw wildcards.

It volition beryllium Birrell's main-draw debut astatine the claycourt expansive slam.

Birrell, ranked No.111 successful the world, has won 20 of her 32 matches this season, including a stunning upset of Kaia Kanepi astatine the Australian Open successful January.

Thanasi Kokkinakis is the different Aussie granted a Roland-Garros wildcard. (Eddie Jim)

Kokkinakis has a akin 2023 record, winning 23 from 34.

"This volition beryllium my archetypal clip playing successful the main gully of a Grand Slam extracurricular of Australia, truthful I'm truly looking guardant to it and couldn't beryllium much grateful for the opportunity," Birrell said.

"I'm truthful excited to beryllium playing the main gully of Roland Garros this year. It's an honour to person the wildcard, and I can't hold to beryllium retired determination competing and playing my bosom retired connected 1 of the world's biggest stages.

"I'm arrogant of the hard enactment I've enactment successful and the advancement I've made, particularly implicit the past fewer months, and I'm feeling assured that I tin nutrient my champion tennis against the champion players successful the world."

Aussie secures daze win

Birrell is 1 of conscionable 2 Aussie women locked into the main draw, alongside Ajla Tomljanovic.

Alongside Kokkinakis successful the men's gully is Alex de Minaur, Nick Kyrgios, Jason Kubler, Alexei Popyrin, Christopher O'Connell, Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell.

"It feels large to beryllium backmost connected the clay, I consciousness similar I'm playing good astatine the moment, and person immoderate large memories playing astatine the French," Kokkinakis said.

"I truly admit getting the wildcard and can't hold to vie successful Paris again. I've had a fewer coagulated wins connected the clay precocious truthful I anticipation I tin physique connected that momentum and get immoderate bully results."

Ten much Aussies are entered successful qualifiers from May 22, with main-draw enactment opening May 28.

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