Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson are set to face each other in the first round of the 2023 Roland Garros singles game today.
Paris, France, May 30, 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Two Australians will face each other in the first round of Roland Garros for the first time in 22 years.
Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson teamed up to win the ATP doubles title last month, but today they will be challengers in singles.
This is the first all-Australian first-round meeting in the men’s singles draw in Paris since 2001, when Wayne Arthurs won in five sets against eighth seed Pat Rafter.
The last all-Australia matchup in a clay-court Grand Slam tournament came in 2015, when teenaged Thanasi Kokkinakis defeated Bernard Tomic in the second round in five sets.
The winner between 25-year-old Purcell and 29-year-old Thompson will become the fourth Australian to join Alex de Minaura, Jason Kubler and Thanasi Kokkinakis in reaching the second round of this year’s tournament. This is the most to reach this milestone in 23 years.
Australians in action on day three:
Max Purcell (Australia) In Jordan Thompson (AUS)
Men’s Singles, First Round, Court 12, First Game (from 19:00 AEST)
Six appearances in the ATP Challenger Finals so far in 2023 helped Purcell skyrocket in the singles rankings. Outside the top 200 in February, New South Wales talent is now ranked 68th in the world. This earned him direct admission to the Grand Slam draw for the first time. Thompson also impresses with form, winning two ATP Challenger titles. The world number 76, who will make his eighth consecutive appearance in the main draw in Paris, defeated Purcell in the ATP Challenger final last month.
Head-to-head record: Thompson leads 3-1
Last meeting: Thompson won 6-3, 6-2 (Gwangju, May 2023)
> SEE: Roland Garros 2023 men’s singles draw
(15) Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Jason Kubler (AUS) vs. Francisco Cabral (POR)/Rafael Matos (BRA)
Men’s Doubles First Round Court 5 First Leg (from 19:00 AEST)
World No. 34 Hijikata and World No. 27 Kubler make their doubles debut at Roland Garros. The reigning champions of the Australian Open will be looking to keep their team’s undefeated record at Grand Slam level with No. 57 Cabral and No. 39 Matos in the first round.
> SEE: Roland Garros 2023 men’s doubles draw
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)/Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) v Simone Bolleli (IT)/Fabio Fognini (IT)
Men’s doubles, first round, court 4, third match
World number 81 Kokkinakis is a Grand Slam doubles champion, but this is only his second doubles appearance this season. The 27-year-old Australian is partnered with German Jan-Lennard Struff. The pair will feature the 2015 Australian Open champions, world No. 45 Bolleli and world No. 52 Fognini, for the first time.
> SEE: The full schedule of the third day of Roland Garros 2023
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