The sun is out in Paris and Alex de Minaur says he’s seen the light again, his disposition having brightened considerably after clawing his way out of a gloomy slump.
Australia’s No.1 has bounced into Roland Garros with a new spring after a run to the semi-final in Hamburg last week persuaded him he really has rediscovered his mental sharpness just in time for his French Open assault.
While fellow Sydneysider James Duckworth reckoned the rays had helped him become the first Aussie through on Sunday's opening day, ‘Demon’ was also dreaming of sun-baked clay while preparing for his opener against big-serving British qualifier Toby Samuel.
“It’s great, it’s going to be very warm for the whole first week, so it definitely changes the conditions and the playing style,” enthused the world No.8, hoping to at least emulate his best French Open run when he reached the quarters in 2024.
“Everything’s a lot quicker, livelier. I’m very excited to see the sun."
The weather reflects his fresh positivity after a dismal spell when he lost three matches back-to-back in Barcelona, Madrid and Rome, until last week's reset in Hamburg where only never-say-die Tommy Paul managed to outlast him.
“The last month, it’s been very tough. I mean, that’s no secret. I think you could see I was feeling it on court," mused de Minaur.
“From someone who’s quite good at managing his own emotions, you could definitely feel the situation I was in, so I wanted to get out of the slump and see the light."
The 27-year-old attributes that slide to having "switched off mentally" following his bright start to 2026 when he reached the Australian Open quarter-finals and then triumphed in Rotterdam.
"The mentality was to put your head down, put the work in, that’s the only way you’re going to get out of it,” he convinced himself.
"Eventually, something clicked in my mind. I don’t think it’s that I forgot how to play tennis for a month, it was just something kind of switched off mentally and I’m glad I was able to find that back."
De Minaur will headline a busy second day for the Aussie contingent on Monday, with teenage wildcard Emerson Jones making her Court Philippe Chatrier bow against four-time champion Iga Swiatek, the nation's top three-ranked women all in action and Thanasi Kokkinakis launching another grand slam comeback.
And they'll all be buoyed by world No.82 Duckworth's example. He was dominating against Gabriel Diallo, ranked 33 places higher, when the Canadian had to pull out when 6-3 4-1 down while suffering in the heat.
"I do always feel a lot more comfortable when it's hotter," said 34-year-old Duckworth, who may be playing some of his best tennis after an indomitable 16-year pro career in which he's undergone surgery nine times.
"You could feel it today, the ball flies and bounces around a lot more and that suits my game," added the veteran who could next face 29th seed Rafael Jodar, the new 19-year-old Spanish 'Rafa' who demolished de Minaur in Madrid last month.
Another old hand, Ajla Tomljanovic, proved the first Australian casualty, blowing a set and 3-0 lead while worn down by American doubles specialist Caty McNally 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.
"I’m just looking forward to putting his horrific six weeks behind me," sighed the former Aussie No.1, who's been suffering with plantar fasciitis. “I think it’s probably the worst stretch I’ve had in my career."
AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION ON DAY TWO OF THE FRENCH OPEN ON MONDAY:
Men’s singles
Aleksandar Vukic v Raphael Collignon (BEL)
8-Alex de Minaur v Toby Samuel (GBR)
Rinky Hijikata v 24-Tommy Paul (USA)
Thanasi Kokkinakis v Terence Atmane (FRA)
Women’s singles
Daria Kasatkina v Zeynep Sonmez (TUR)
Maya Joint v 28-Anastasia Potapova (AUT)
Talia Gibson v Yulia Putintseva (KAZ)
Emerson Jones (wildcard) v 3-Iga Swiatek
