Victorian teenager Jaimee Fourlis is buzzing after winning her way into the French Open main draw for the first time.
Fourlis will make her Roland Garros debut after surviving three successive knockout matches to secure Australia's wildcard berth into the claycourt grand slam event starting on Sunday.
The 17-year-old beat Priscilla Hon and Arina Rodionova before outclassing Isabelle Wallace 6-3 6-1 in the playoff final in Paris.
"It's an amazing feeling," Fourlis said after joining fellow Australians Samantha Stosur, Daria Gavrilova, Ashleigh Barty and Ajla Tomljanovic in the 128-strong women's draw.
"I'd like to thank Pratty (Tennis Australia's Nicole Pratt) and everybody for giving me the opportunity to play in the wildcard playoff, and of course winning it is something really special."
Fourlis will be contesting her second straight grand slam after also winning the Australian Open wildcard playoff in January and then storming into the second round.
"To do it here in Paris is an amazing feeling, on clay, which I love," said the world No.336.
"I'm super excited. I'm over the moon. I love clay and love everything about this tournament.
"Whoever I get (in the first round) is whoever I get. It's luck of the draw but I'm really excited. Can't wait."
The 24th-ranked Stosur, a four-time semi-finalist, including last year, and runner-up in 2010, once again heads the Australian women's challenge.
But Gavrilova will also be seeded - for the first time in Paris - after her charge to last week's quarter-finals in Rome.
Rodionova, Destanee Aiava and Lizette Cabrera are hoping to join the quintet in Friday night's draw through qualifying.
World No.19 Nick Kyrgios will spearhead Australia's six-strong assault in the men's draw alongside Bernard Tomic, Jordan Thompson, John Millman, Thanasi Kokkinakis and wildcard Alex Di Minaur.
Marc Polmans could boost Australian numbers in the men's draw after winning his first-round qualifying match, but Matt Ebden, Andrew Whittington and John-Patrick Smith all lost on Tuesday.
Share
