'TRYING TO PREPARE AS BEST I CAN': AIAVA, SCHOOLKATE RECEIVE FRENCH OPEN WILDCARDS

Destanee Aiava during the 2025 Australian Open. (Getty/Robert Prange)

15 Aussies are guaranteed to feature in the French Open singles main draw after Destanee Aiava and Tristan Schoolkate were handed reciprocal wildcards.

Aiava, ranked No.157, and Schoolkate, ranked No.129, are guaranteed to collect $A136,500 for competing in the first-round.

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Having suffered a tight three-set loss against Britain's Heather Watson at an ITF W100 event at the beginning of May, this welcomed piece of news is exactly what Aiava needed.

"I’m so happy, honestly. I was not expecting it at all," Aiava, who hasn't surpassed the opening round of French Open qualifying in three attempts, told The Sit-Down podcast.

"I literally had just lost my match last week; it was a really tight match, and I was crying. I was just laying down, wallowing in my sadness, and then I got a call from Sam [Stosur], and I was like, 'Oh, why is she calling me?'

"She said, 'I hope this cheers you up, to offer you the French wildcard'. I was like, 'excuse me?' I had to look around to make sure this was real life.

"I was just really happy, over the moon. Honestly, it’s so special and I don’t think it’s sunk in yet, but I’m training on the clay and trying to prepare as best I can.

"There’s always something good around the corner, I guess, in this sport."

For Schoolkate, it will mark three consecutive Grand Slam wildcard entries after taking a set off world No.1 Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open, and making his Slam debut at the US Open last year.

The 24-year-old is yet to play competitively on the clay this year, but is grateful to get the chance to appear at Roland-Garros for the first time.

"Thank you to Tennis Australia for this incredible opportunity. My team and I have been putting in the work every day, always striving to reach new heights," he said.

"I’m excited for the chance to compete against the world’s best on the clay in Paris."

The French Open main draw begins Sunday May 25.

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