De Minaur Advances at Roland Garros Despite Foot Injury

Alex de Minaur, nicknamed the 'clay dog,' began his French Open campaign with a hard-fought 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 victory over Serbian Laslo Djere, marking his 20th consecutive Grand Slam win against a player outside the top 30. Despite dealing with a taped right foot blister and having to save four set points in the third set, the world No. 9 showcased resilience and composure to advance in just over two and a half hours. De Minaur's performance was characterized by some shaky serving and a medical timeout to treat his foot, yet his fighting spirit and confidence, built over recent seasons, helped him prevail in challenging conditions. Fellow Australian Adam Walton also secured a notable five-set win to reach the second round, joining de Minaur and other compatriots in progressing at Roland Garros. De Minaur aims to build on his previous quarter-final breakthrough at the French Open, with his next match set against either James Duckworth or Alexander Bublik. His determination and the support of his fan base remain crucial as he pursues deeper runs in the tournament amid his most promising clay-court season yet.