Alex de Minaur and Thanasi Kokkinakis are producing the goods for Australia at Roland Garros this year.
It is the first time since 2015 that two Australian men have reached the third round of the men’s singles draw. Nine years ago, a 19-year-old Kokkinakis joined contemporary Nick Kyrgios in the final 32.
For De Minaur, a career-best season so far has proved to be a catalyst for a drastic improvement on what has historically been his least-productive surface.
Springboarding off the back of his best-ever results at clay-court Masters events in Monte Carlo and Rome, the world No.11 is enjoying the best run of his career in Paris and is dominating matches without dropping a set in the tournament so far.
The Australian believes that working hard in the gym has enhanced his clay-court game and given him confidence to perform at a new level at Roland Garros.
“I’ve gained a lot of muscle, a lot of strength,” De Minaur said.
“I don’t play with too many revolutions on the ball, that’s where the strength comes in. It allows me to maintain a pretty strong average rally ball that helps me hurt me opponent and not get pushed around.”
Reaching the third round for the first time is a milestone worth celebrating, but the top-ranked Aussie now has his sights set on greater heights.
“I thought there’s no reason why I can’t do it, so it’s just good to finally be able to be in the third round,” he said.
“Ultimately my goal is not to make the third round, it’s to go for bigger and better things.”
His compatriot Kokkinakis reaches the third round for the second consecutive year, and the third time overall, after two gruelling five-set battles.
Even though this is a stage he has previously reached in Paris, the world No.100 said De Minaur’s form was inspiring.
“Alex is leading the way for us, just the way he’s going about his business, he deserves the best,” Kokkinakis said.
“I’m trying to follow in his footsteps and play as well as I can.”
Kokkinakis is the only player at this year’s Roland Garros who has played in two five-set matches so far.
The latest epic against Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri was the third time in Kokkinakis’ career where he has recovered from a two-set deficit.
“(I'm) on fumes at the moment. It's tough,” Kokkinakis admitted.
"I mean, finding a win ugly is better than not winning at all but (it) definitely catches up with you in these Grand Slam matches."
After hearing from Kokkinakis on The AO Show Weekly podcast, Game Insight Group analyst Simon Rea praised the 28-year-old’s ability to adapt his strengths to a less-preferred surface.
“We know the weapons Thanasi possesses on both serve and forehand,” Rea noted. “(It’s) certainly not his favoured surface, the terre battue or the red clay at Roland Garros, so I think he can take heart to that.”
The next challenge for Kokkinakis will be No.12 seed Taylor Fritz in the third round.
De Minaur faces two-time French Open fourth rounder Jan-Lennard Struff.
Should they win, it would be the first time in 23 years that two Australian men have progressed to the fourth round at the same edition of Roland Garros. In 2001, Lleyton Hewitt and Wayne Arthurs both advanced to the last 16.