Kokkinakis' 8-year first in stunning French Open boilover as three ...

Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis has reached the second round of the French Open for the first time since 2015, and he’s not the only Australian to book their place in the second round on the opening day of the clay-court grand slam.

In 2015, Kokkinakis received a wildcard and fought his way into the third round after wins over qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili and his fellow Australian in 27th-seeded Bernard Tomic.

Kokkinakis subsequently lost in the third round to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

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This year, Kokkinakis is again competing as a wildcard entry, currently sitting 111th in the world.

But he toppled 20th-seed Brit Dan Evans with a sensational straight-sets victory, winning 6-4 6-4 6-4.

Kokkinakis started well and finally earned the break with a delightful lob to lead 4-3 in the first set, and held on to serve for the set.

Evans then took a bathroom break between sets and came back like a man possessed, breaking to love in the second game to lead 2-0 in the second. But the Brit fell apart in a furious moment after Kokkinakis broke back. Evans copped a foot-fault at 30-15, and after he was broken he unleashed on his racquet and then the umpire in a furious spray.

Kokkinakis staved off a trio of break points to hold on and make it 4-4 in the second, before breaking the following game and then serving out the set to love – having won five games in a row.

In the third set, the Aussie sealed a break to lead 3-2 on the third break point.

Kokkinakis was under pressure throughout, and double-faulted on break point to make it 4-4 in the third. But he broke back in brilliant fashion, smacking a return down the line from deep out of court to break back at 5-4, before serving out the match.

He will next face either a three-time Grand Slam champion in Stan Wawrinka or clay-court specialist Albert Ramos Vinolas.

Meanwhile, 28-year-old Aussie Storm Sanders claimed a sensational comeback win over Spain’s Nuria Parrizas-Diaz.

Sanders, who fought through qualifying to make the main draw, lost the first set 4-6, but recovered to win the next two 6-2 6-4.

The match was a festival of break points, with Sanders sealing 6 of 15 and Parrizas-Diaz four of 11.

It caps a remarkable run for the Aussie doubles specialist, who won the mixed doubles title at the 2022 US Open and last week won the women’s double in Rome.

Australia’s female stocks were boosted to two when Storm Hunter got through qualifying and she continued that winning momentum by securing her first singles victory in the main draw of a grand slam.

Jason Kubler then made it a trio of opening-day wins for Australians, winning a five-set battle with Argentine lucky loser Facundo Diaz Acosta to record a 1-6 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-1 victory.

Kokkinakis has endured an injury-plagued career but is confident that should his body stand up, so can his tennis on the back of his win.

“When it feels like half of your career has been kind of taken away, you hope you can have a bit at the back end,” the now 27-year-old said.

“As long as my body is able to … we’ll see. There was a point when we didn’t think I’d play that much longer and I was 22 years old. I’m 27 now and who knows? Winning is addictive and losing makes you want to quit tennis.

“I know I can’t do this forever. Whatever I do choose, I try not to take it for granted … I know where I was many years ago when I was missing out and not having opportunities.

“You never know but I find it hard to see myself playing like these guys you see playing past 35, 36. There’s so much travel, from Australia constantly. Your social life pretty much goes out the window.”

Kokkinakis will face either former champion Stan Wawrinka or veteran Spanish clay-courter Albert Ramos-Vinolas in round 2.

Hunter remains the only Aussie female in the draw after Kim Birrell, competing for the first time in the main draw at Roland Garros, lost in three sets to local Leolia Jeanjean.

COMING UP

Men’s singles, first round

(18) Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Ilya Ivashka

Max Purcell (AUS) v Jordan Thompson (AUS)

Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v (Q) Aslan Karatsev

Chris O’Connell (AUS) v Taro Daniel (JPN)

Men’s singles, second round

Jason Kubler (AUS) v TBC

(WC) Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v TBC

Women’s singles, second round

(Q) Storm Hunter (AUS) v TBC