‘CAN NOW LIVE MY LIFE FREELY’: KASATKINA AMONG THREE AUSSIE WINNERS ON MONDAY IN PARIS

Alexei Popyrin commenced the Australian action on Monday at Roland Garros, recording his first singles victory at the venue in six years.

Popyrin - who won the French Open Boys singles title back in 2017 - has since struggled for wins on the Parisian clay, holding a 1-6 win/loss record heading into his clash with Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.

“Every match that I've played here has actually been really tough. I think I remember all the losses that I had. They've not been the easiest of draws. They've been tough first-round losses, ones that I've taken to heart,” Popyrin said on his Roland Garros career.

Keen to break the streak today, the 25-year-old Aussie started strongly against the tricky Nishioka, leading 7-5, 6-4, 1-2 before his opponent retired due to injury.

“[Nishioka] played really well in the first two sets. I had to stay solid. I served really well in the first two sets,” Popyrin discussed post-match.

“Unfortunately, he tweaked his back towards the end of the match. Told me he tweaked it four points before he retired,” Popyrin explained on his opponent’s retirement.

The Aussie will now face Alejandro Tabilo in round two as he seeks to break new ground at Roland Garros.

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Meeting for the second time in a week, Ajla Tomljanovic came out with a point to prove against Maya Joint, who had beaten her (via retirement) last week in Rabat.

Joint led her more experienced compatriot a set to love before in their semi-final in Morocco, before going on to win her maiden WTA tour title.

On this occasion, the 32-year-old was in control from the outset, recording a 6-1, 6-3 victory to reach round two of Roland Garros for a fifth time.

“I thought about the way I should play, and I really executed well…played really aggressively, which I thought was the key. My coach gave me a good pep-talk, it really worked today,” Tomljanovic said in her press conference.

“Given how well Maya has been playing, I had a few days to think about it, and I knew that if I didn’t come out this way, it’s going to be really tough,” the Aussie said.

“It’s just nice to see everything pay off when I play the right way,” she continued.

Daria Kasatkina was the third Aussie to progress on Monday, coming through 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 against Kateřina Siniaková.

“Definitely was not an easy match. Also, I didn't play many matches, let's say, as preparation before Roland Garros. But really happy the way I was able to fight today and how I managed the nerves…super proud of myself today,” Kasatkina said post-match.

Playing under the Australian flag for the first time, she admitted it’s a strange feeling, but one she is enjoying.

“It's a beautiful flag, first of all. To play my first Grand Slam under the Australian flag, it's a big honour. I just feel super happy and proud to win the first match as well,” the 28-year-old said.

“The main thing is that I can live my life now freely and happily. With that, the tennis will come. That's most important,” Kasatkina said on her new nationality.

“I'm just really thankful to Australia for giving me this opportunity. Yeah, couldn't be happier to represent the country like that.”

Five further Aussies (plus Maya Joint) were defeated on day two in Paris, with Aleks Vukic, Chris O’Connell, Jordan Thompson, Daria Saville and Kimberly Birrell all unable to take a set off their respective opponents.

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