She loves the Gold Coast, but Kim Birrell feels nearly as at home in Paris where her French 'second family' have been cheering her remarkable breakthrough.
Ian Chadband
Iga Swiatek was far below her best, making 38 unforced errors including a series of double faults, but still saw off her Czech opponent in straight sets.
Staff Writers
Top-ranked Jannik Sinner cruised through the first round of the French Open to take his winning streak to 30 matches as he hunts the only major he's yet to win.
In August, he was one of the world's top 20 players, but Alexei Popyrin will now plummet outside the top 80 after a demoralising French Open exit.
Last year's finalists Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff avoided trouble on the third day of the French Open, as Naomi Osaka's dress lit up Roland Garros.
Glenn Moore
Top Australian Alex de Minaur's hopes of a deep run at the French Open have been boosted following an unfortunate injury to his second-round opponent.
Queenslanders Adam Walton and Kimberly Birrell have caused two of the biggest sensations of the French Open, defeating marquee players at Roland Garros.
Aryna Sabalenka is through to the second round of the French Open after a straight sets defeat of Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Aussie Emerson Jones has had the misfortune of winning just 10 games in her first three grand slam matches - but the teenage ace is far from disheartened.
Daria Kasatkina says trying to return to her best is like swimming through something unpalatable -- but her opening win in Paris suggests she's getting there.
Former Wimbledon champ Pat Cash has painted a grim picture of the state of Australian grass roots tennis that the sport's new boss Andrew Abdo will inherit.
Unheralded Hungarian provides another stiff test for the Ukrainian seventh seed before Elina Svitolina finally enforces her superiority in a super tiebreak.
Gael Monfils and Stan Wawrinka have both played their final matches at the French Open after the tour veterans lost their opening rounds in Paris.
Thanasi Kokkinakis has begun another grand slam comeback with a marathon French Open triumph while Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina also won in the Paris sun.
Tennis Australia is expected to unveil NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo as Craig Tiley's successor.
Jasper Bruce and Darren Walton
Novak Djokovic has begun his quest for a record-breaking 25th grand slam triumph with a hard-earned victory - and a dad dance.
The injury-scarred Adelaide battler Thanasi Kokkinakis is about to embark in Paris on the 12-month adventure that may well make or break his career.
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk says she's 'incredibly' proud after a first-round French Open win only hours after a Russian missile strike near her parents' home.
Australia's French Open hope Alex de Minaur says he's battled through a tough period and now he's ready to build on James Duckworth's first-day boost in Paris.
Jannik Sinner looks the hottest favourite to win a grand slam for years, with Alex de Minaur among the support cast wondering how on earth to halt him in Paris.
Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur has fallen short at the penultimate hurdle in his bid to lift a maiden clay-court crown in Hamburg, outlasted by Tommy Paul.
Emerson Jones has been handed the hardest of Roland Garros main draw debuts, but the Aussie teen wildcard remains excited and undaunted.
Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur has his eyes set on going to Paris with a first clay-court title to his name after racing into the semis at the Hamburg Open.
Emerson Jones will play four-time champion Iga Swiatek in her French Open bow as Alex de Minaur's Paris route could see him meet Novak Djokovic in the quarters.
