World No. 9 Alex de Minaur spearheaded the Australian contingent on the third day of Roland Garros 2025, launching his campaign on May 27, 2025, against Serbia’s Laslo Djere on Court 14. Joined by compatriots James Duckworth, Adam Walton, and Olivia Gadecki, De Minaur aimed to build on his career-best 2024 quarterfinal run at the clay-court Grand Slam, where he became the first Australian man to reach that stage since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004.
De Minaur’s Match and Form
De Minaur, seeded ninth, faced Djere, ranked No. 59, in a first-round clash, holding a perfect 3-0 head-to-head record, including wins at the 2019 Paris Masters (6-1, 6-4), 2021 Queen’s Club, and 2023 Hertogenbosch. While their matches have never been on clay, De Minaur’s 9-4 clay record in 2025, bolstered by a Monte Carlo Masters semifinal, gave him confidence. “I’ve always been a person that stays in the present, so the only thing on my mind right now is my first-round opponent, Djere,” he told AAP, emphasizing the belief gained from last year’s run: “I can be a menace on the surface.” His speed, aggressive returns, and improved clay game (66.7% first-serve points won, 48% break-point conversion) positioned him as the favorite, with betting odds at -350. Posts on X, like @tennis8menace, predicted a 3-0 win for De Minaur.
Other Australian Action
- James Duckworth and Adam Walton took to Court 12, facing Alexander Bublik and an unspecified opponent, respectively, aiming to join Alexei Popyrin in the second round after Popyrin’s Day 2 win.
- Olivia Gadecki made her Roland Garros main-draw debut on Court Philippe-Chatrier against No. 2 seed Coco Gauff, seeking to become the third Australian woman to advance, following Daria Kasatkina and Ajla Tomljanovic’s first-round victories.
- In doubles, Jason Kubler and Jordan Thompson opened on Court 3, while Rinky Hijikata and Matthew Romios also competed.
De Minaur’s Draw and Challenges
De Minaur’s path is treacherous, with a potential third-round clash against rising Czech teenager Jakub Mensik, a fourth-round match against Jack Draper, and a quarterfinal against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, against whom he holds a 0-10 record. Later rounds could pit him against Novak Djokovic or defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Despite overcoming mental burnout, as he told Stan Sport, De Minaur’s clay-court progress—evident in his 2024 win over Daniil Medvedev (4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3)—fuels optimism.
Context and Connections
De Minaur’s leadership of the 15-strong Australian contingent, the largest in 25 years, aligns with the 2025 French Open’s themes of resilience and ambition. His focus mirrors Emma Raducanu’s fight against Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka’s emotional clay struggles, and Taylor Fritz’s revenue advocacy, reflecting athletes navigating pressure. Coco Gauff’s and Madison Keys’ men’s title predictions (Mensik/Alcaraz vs. Sinner) highlight the tournament’s unpredictability, with Mensik a potential De Minaur foe. Off-field, Jack Grealish’s transfer saga and Luke Littler’s darts controversy parallel De Minaur’s need to stay focused amid expectations. As he takes on Djere, De Minaur’s performance will set the tone for Australia’s Roland Garros aspirations.