Latest news with #TristanSchoolkate
News.com.au
25-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Tristan Schoolkate, Destanee Aiava and Rinky Hijikata all bundled out on opening day at Roland Garros
The French Open debuts for Australians Tristan Schoolkate and Destanee Aiava ended in defeat with compatriot Rinky Hijikata also bundled out on the opening day of action at Roland Garros. Given a wildcard into the clay court grand slam, Aiava couldn't handle hard-hitting Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, losing 7-5 6-1, and conceded she lost her way after going down an early break. 'It's a different kind of game type that I have to get more experience with. She's obviously a big hitter. It just wasn't as consistent as I liked it to be,' the 25-year-old said. 'I need to get better with controlling my emotions when things look like or feel like they're getting too far away from me. 'Especially going down a break and automatically thinking I've lost … It's kind of a natural response that I have all the time. It's something that I really do need to work on.' Schoolkate went down to the more experienced Marton Fucsovics in a battle that lasted more than two hours and gave the West Australian some confidence with hopes of getting back next year. 'I think it was a great experience, great learning to see the level these guys (achieve). Why they've been at that ranking and are such calibre of players for so long,' he said after the 6-4 6-2 6-2 loss. 'There's a lot I can improve on and I'm happy to do that work and improve and hopefully be back next year and do better again.' Hijikata was the only Australian to win a set, taking the first in just 18 minutes against American Reilly Opelka. But then the big-serving of Opelka became a factor, sending down 22 aces as he took control to run out a 1-6 6-3 7-5 7-6 winner. 'I played a bit of a loose game, then I felt like from there he started really picking it up and in third and fourth (sets), I felt like he served exceptionally,' Hijikata said. 'I didn't really get a look. He played some really good shots. There were one or two chances where I had to capitalise, but I didn't. He came up with some pretty good stuff when he needed to, especially in the fourth set.' 'This is the longest I've spent on clay in a long, long time. I did feel like I was figuring it out, which maybe makes this (loss) a little bit more frustrating, 'I am starting to figure it out. I feel like next year I can come here and feel like I can get some good results. I do think it's a surface I can play on. I think a lot of part of my game now, I've realised can match up well … I'm confident moving forward.' Another eight Australians, including Alexei Popyrin and Maya Joint, will be in action on day two. RESULTS – Roland Garros day 1 Men's singles, first round Reilly Opelka d Rinky Hijikata 1-6 6-3 7-5 7-6(3) Marton Fucsovics d (WC) Tristan Schoolkate 6-4 6-2 6-2 Women's singles first round Dayana Yastremska d (WC) Destanee Aiava 7-5 6-1 COMING UP – Roland Garros day 2 Men's singles, first round (25) Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) first match, Court 6 Jordan Thompson (AUS) v Jiri Lehecka (CZE) second match, Court 4 Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) v (24) Karen Khachanov third match, Court 12 Chris O'Connell (AUS) v (22) Ugo Humbert (FRA) last match, Court 14 Women's singles, first round (Q) Daria Saville v (7) Madison Keys last match, Simonne-Matthieu Court (17) Daria Kasatkina (AUS) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE) third match, Court 6 Maya Joint (AUS) v Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) second match, Court 9
News.com.au
12-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Destanee Aiava and fellow Aussie Tristan Schoolkate given wildcards into French Open
Destanee Aiava has gone from crying after her last-start loss to buzzing with excitement after snaring a wildcard for the French Open. Aiava and fellow Aussie Tristan Schoolkate will get their main draw chances at Roland Garros in search of grand slam breakthroughs. Ranked world No.157, Aiava made it to the second round of the Australian Open, her first main draw appearance since 2021, after taking down Belgium's Greet Minnen in the opening round. She got the news of her Roland Garros wildcard from Australian Billie Jean King Cup captain Sam Stosur and conceded it came as a shock having been 'wallowing in my sadness' after a recent defeat. 'I'm so happy, honestly. I was not expecting it at all,' Aiava said on this week's episode of The Sit-Down podcast. 'I literally had just lost my match last week; it was a really tight match and I was crying. And I was just like laying down, you know, wallowing in my sadness, and then I got a call from Sam [Stosur], and I was like, 'oh, why is she calling me'? (laughter). 'She said, 'I hope this cheers you up, to offer you the French wildcard'. And I was like, 'Excuse me'? I had to look around to make sure like this was real life. 'I was just really happy, I was 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.' West Australian Schoolkate has enjoyed a career-best 12 months and moved to 129 in the world having captured his first ATP Challenger title at the 2024 Guangzhou International Challenger. He made headlines at Australian Open 2025 by taking the first set against No.1 Jannik Sinner and now wanted to take advantage of his French Open opportunity. 'Thank you to Tennis Australia for this incredible opportunity,' Schoolkate said. 'My team and I have been putting in the work every day, always striving to reach new heights. 'I'm excited for the chance to compete against the world's best on the clay in Paris.' The addition of Aiava and Schoolkate bring the Australian contingent in Roland Garros singles to 15.
