AUSSIE hope Alex de Minaur has stormed into the second round of Roland Garros after a dominant performance against young American, Alex Michelsen. After waiting a few hours due to a rain delay, it was the 11th seed who unloaded on the Next Gen talent, only dropping three games en route to the Round of 64 in Paris.

In a match that lasted just one hour and 48 minutes, de Minaur won 6-1 6-0 6-2 to breeze into the second round where he will take on Spaniard Jaume Munar. In the match, de Minaur won 75 and 67 per cent of his first and second serve points, and though his first serve percentage (52) is still a worry., only dropping an average of six points on serve each set through the match never gave his opponent a look in.

Just as strong upon return, de Minaur won 58 per cent of his receiving points and broke a massive eight times from 13 changes. While Michelsen did actually break once, he had minimal chances and only managed the eight winners to a combination of 63 errors (27 forced, 36 unforced).

By comparison, the Australian smashed 28 winners to 39 errors (just 21 unforced) in an eye-catching display. He was also far more clinical on the approach with an 82 per cent success rate (18/22) from the net, compared to Michelsen’s 39 per cent (13/33).

Across the courts, de Minaur’s next opponent Munar defeated compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut in four sets, joining Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Roberto Carballes Baena in the second round. All the top seeds got through relatively unscathed, though American Taylor Fritz had a first set to forget against Argentinian Federico Coria before coming back to win 2-6 6-1 6-2 6-1. In the all-Aussie clash, Thanasi Kokkinakis overcame a five-set thriller to get past Alexei Popyrin and book his place in the Round of 643.

Frenchman Adrian Mannarino was ousted to end a horror clay season where he failed to win a match on the surface from six tournaments. Far more dangerous on grass with his slice game, he will be relieved to head to the European grass. It was a good day for the Italians, with Giulio Zeppieri the beneficiary in the win over Mannarino, one of three Italians through to the Round of 64 on day three, with Flavio Cobolli and Luciano Darderi also advancing.

2024 ROLAND GARROS ROUND OF 128 ATP RESULTS:

[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) defeated Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) 6-4 7-6 6-4
[7] Casper Ruud (NOR) defeated Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves (BRA) 6-3 6-4 6-3
[11] Alex de Minaur (AUS) defeated Alex Michelsen (USA) 6-1 6-0 6-2
[12] Taylor Fritz (USA) defeated Federico Coria (ARG) 2-6 6-1 6-2 6-1
[13] Holger Rune (DEN) defeated Daniel Evans (GBR) 6-4 6-4 6-4
[19] Alexander Bublik (KAZ) defeated Gregoire Barrere (FRA) 6-4 7-5 6-3
Giulio Zeppieri (ITA) defeated [22] Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 4-6 6-2 6-1 6-2
[26] Tallon Griekspoor (NED) defeated Mackenzie McDonald (USA) 6-3 6-4 1-6 6-2
[28] Tomas Etcheverry (ARG) defeated Arthur Cazaux (FRA) 3-6 6-2 6-1 6-4
[31] Mariano Navone (ARG) defeated Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) 5-7 6-1 6-3 6-0
Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) defeated Adam Walton (AUS) 6-2 6-4 7-5
Tomas Machac (CZE) defeated Nuno Borges (POR) 7-6 6-4 6-3
Jaume Munar (ESP) defeated Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 6-1 4-6 6-4 6-1
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) defeated Valentin Vacherot (MON) 4-6 6-2 6-2 7-6
David Goffin (BEL) defeated Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA) 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-7 6-3
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) defeated Roman Andres Burruchaga (ARG) 6-3 6-2 6-1
Flavio Cobolli (ITA) defeated Hamad Medjedovic (SRB) 6-2 6-3 6-7 6-3
Luciano Darderi (ITA) defeated Rinky Hijikata (AUS) 6-3 7-6 6-1
Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) defeated Constant Lestienne (FRA) 6-3 7-5 4-6 6-2
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) defeated Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 4-6 7-6 6-3 5-7 6-3