Tristan Schoolkate seemed to soak up the atmosphere when he walked onto Rod Laver Arena to face Jannik Sinner at Australian Open 2025 on Thursday night.
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Only competing in his second Grand Slam main draw, it was by far the biggest stadium the home wildcard ranked No. 173 had ever played in.
Along with Mexican trailblazer Renata Zarazua, who then faced another Italian on centre court in Thursday’s night session, Jasmine Paolini, their experiences are the stuff that first weeks at a Grand Slam are made of.
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Schoolkate years ago turned to Go Fund Me to kickstart his junior career, while Zarazua received funds from the Grand Slam Development Fund to boost her own tennis journey.
While Sinner overcame Schoolkate 4-6 6-4 6-1 6-3 and Paolini beat Zarazua 6-2 6-3 in the second round, the underdog pair likely won’t ever forget their soiree.
Novak Djokovic spoke this week of the difficulty of meeting new opponents and that may have been a factor – with the wind – in Sinner conceding a set.
But the defending champion and world No.1 never expects to breeze against opponents, including Schoolkate.
“I felt like he was serving really well,” Sinner told John McEnroe afterwards in his on-court interview.
“He was playing much better than I was at the beginning. It’s a very special place, especially with the Australians here playing with their home crowd, but I have to be very happy still for my performance.
“Never taking things for granted, so very glad to be again in the next round.”
Schoolkate varied direction from the baseline, feathered drop shots, serve and volleyed and ripped flat serves that punched above his 183cm frame. He also went for his second serve, which heavily explained his 10 double faults.
When one of those double faults resulted on the first point, one couldn’t help but wonder if the Sinner Express would speed to victory. Not so.
Schoolkate broke to love to end the first set thanks to a forehand snatch from Sinner, and when he hung tough in the second set, thoughts of another wildcard upsetting a defending champion in Melbourne – Denis Istomin did it against Djokovic in 2017 – surfaced.
The normally unflappable Sinner showed only minor irritation as his fellow 23-year-old – who had never beaten a top 80 player – indeed stayed close.
Sinner, however, finally broke for 4-3 in the second. He then broke to start the third, subsequently delivering his most authoritative fist pump of the evening.
Sinner took over, although Schoolkate prevailed in a marathon seven deuce game to hold for 1-3 in the fourth.
The Perth native received extended applause from his home faithful as he departed, replying with a thumbs up. He is set to crack the top 150 for the first time.
Sinner, meanwhile, recorded a 16th consecutive hard court victory and took it all in his stride, as he usually does.
When McEnroe – fiery on court in his day – asked Sinner how he remains so calm, he replied with a smile, “We can say we are a bit different, me and you.”
Most everyone laughed.
Sinner steered Italy to yet more Davis Cup glory in November in Malaga – and Paolini did the same in the Billie Jean King Cup.
Paolini’s foray to both the French Open and Wimbledon finals last year significantly raised her profile back home, but winning gold in doubles alongside idol Sara Errani at the Paris Olympics, she said, took it to another level.
Zarazua, who this week became the first Mexican woman to win a round at the Australian Open in 30 years, and Paolini share a similar height – Paolini stands 163cm, Zarazua 160cm – and similar speed around the court.
Zarazua featured in all four Grand Slam main draws last season for the first time, coming up against Slam winners or finalists Madison Keys, Emma Raducanu and Caroline Wozniacki.
So the 27-year-old benefited from more big-match experience than Schoolkate, although this was also Paolini’s first time at RLA.
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Perhaps it helped the world No.70 break in the opening game, the final point seeing the pair scramble acrobatically prior to Zarazua capping a 22-shot rally with a backhand winner.
Paolini, however, hits with much more zip and it paid dividends against a foe she too had never confronted, as did finishing points at the net.
Crushing a forehand winner to get the momentum back, Paolini let out a loud roar – she is more demonstrative than her friend Sinner.
Zarazua’s supporters, some donning wrestling masks – wrestling is popular in Mexico – were delighted when their favourite got back on serve twice in the second set.
But Paolini triumphed on a 20-shot exchange to help her pull ahead 5-3, and accelerated to set up a clash with No.28 seed Elina Svitolina.
“I feel very lucky to play on this court and to do the tunnel. It’s so hot because there are so many lights,” a bubbly Paolini said afterwards, referring to the famed passageway leading to centre court.
“It’s like 40 degrees there! But it feels great. I’m really happy to get my first win on this court.”
With Zarazua smiling as she left the court, a good time seemed to be had by all four participants on Thursday night.