Rinky Hijikata, Arina Rodionova and Li Tu carry Australian hopes on day one of the Roland Garros 2023 qualifying competition.
Paris, France, 22 May 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Three Australians begin their Roland Garros qualifying quests in Paris today.
Rinky Hijikata and Li Tu are competing at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament for the first time, alongside the experienced Arina Rodionova.
They are among 11 Australians in total contesting this year’s qualifying competition at Roland Garros.
> READ MORE: Eleven Australians in Roland Garros qualifying
Aussies in action on day one:
[29] Rinky Hijikata (AUS) v Thiago Agustin Tirante (ARG)
Men’s qualifying singles, first round, Court 12, first match (from 6pm AEST)
World No.136 Hijikata is yet to win a clay-court match in 2023 but the proven big-stage performer is aiming to buck this trend in his Roland Garros debut. The 22-year-old from Sydney faces a first-round opponent who is comfortable on the dirt surface. Tirante, a 22-year-old Argentine ranked No.153, claimed the Roland Garros 2019 boys’ doubles title and made an ATP Challenger final on clay last month.
Head-to-head record: First meeting
Li Tu (AUS) v [25] Fabian Marozsan (HUN)
Men’s qualifying singles, first round, Court 11, second match
World No.246 Tu has been handed a tough draw in his Roland Garros debut. The 26-year-old from Adelaide, who is contesting his first tour-level tournament on clay, meets headline-making world No.115 Marozsan, who sensationally defeated world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz during a career-best fourth-round run in Rome last week. The 23-year-old from Hungary is also competing in Paris for the first time.
Head-to-head record: First meeting
Arina Rodionova (AUS) v Tara Wurth (CRO)
Women’s qualifying singles, first round, Court 10, fifth match
Rodionova carries impressive momentum into her ninth Roland Garros qualifying campaign. The 33-year-old from Melbourne has won 30 of her 41 matches and scooped three ITF singles titles this season. World No.203 Rodionova, who has a 3-9 win-loss career record in Paris, faces world No.158 Wurth. The 20-year-old Croat is making her Roland Garros debut and looking to score her first Grand Slam-level win.
Head-to-head record: First meeting
> VIEW: Full Roland Garros 2023 qualifying, day one schedule
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