Alex de Minaur is one of three Australians who will take part in the second day of Roland Garros 2023.
Paris, France, May 29, 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Alex de Minaur, Australia’s top player, is feeling confident ahead of today’s first round match at Roland Garros.
“I feel like I can do some damage and play well,” said world No. 19 De Minaur.
However, De Minaur fears his opponent, World No. 73 Ilya Ivashka.
“He’s a striking guy who likes to take the lead in the points,” said De Minaur. “I expect a battle. Here at Roland Garros, it’s never easy.
World No. 19 is one of three Australians set to compete on day two in Paris.
De Minaur, Chris O’Connell and Alexei Popyrin are looking to join Storm Hunter compatriots Thanasi Kokkinakis and Jason Kubler in the second round of the Grand Slam on clay courts.
> READ: Hunter records breakthrough at Roland Garros
Roland Garros is broadcast live in Australia on Nine Network and Stan Sport, with coverage starting at 6:30pm AEST.
Australians in action on day two:
(18) Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Ilya Ivashka
Men’s Singles First Round Kort 6 First Game (from 19:00 AEST)
De Minaur starts his seventh appearance at Roland Garros, determined to continue his 6-2 win-loss record. The 24-year-old Australian has only gone beyond the first round twice – in 2019 and 2021. His first-round opponent, 29-year-old Ivaskha, took his first main draw win in Paris last year. De Minaur may gain extra confidence with his undefeated record against World No. 73, whom he last beat in a winning run in Atlanta last year.
Head-to-head record: De Minaur leads 2-0
Last meeting: De Minaur won 5-7 6-2 6-2 (Atlanta, July 2022)
Chris O’Connell (AUS) vs. Taro Daniel (JPN)
Men’s Singles, First Round, Court 4, Second Match
O’Connell arrives in Paris at career high ranking world No. 77 after a great season on clay courts. The 28-year-old from Sydney has reached three quarter-finals at ATP level, has three top-50 victories and amassed a total of 11 victories on clay in the last two months. The easy-going O’Connell, who will be making his third Roland Garros main event and looking for his first win, will be looking to continue his impressive streak against Daniel, the 30-year-old Japanese ranked No. 112.
Head-to-head: First meeting
> SEE: Roland Garros 2023 men’s singles draw
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v (Q) Aslan Karatsev
Men’s Singles, First Round, Kort 8, Second Match
Popyrin has happy memories of Paris, where in 2017 he became the first Australian in 49 years to win the Roland Garros boys’ singles title. The 23-year-old is also in good form, having recently made a fourth round appearance in Rome. World No. 85 opponent in the first round is also in hot form. Karatsev has won 13 of his last 15 matches, helping the 29-year-old jump from the top 120 to world number 62. The former world number 14 is regaining the form that helped him advance to the 2021 AO semi-finals.
Head-to-head record: Karatsev leads 1-0
Last meeting: Karatsev won 6:3, 6:3 (Nur-Sultan, October 2020)
> READ: Roland Garros 2023 Day Two Full Schedule
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