Kokkinakis closes in on French Open spot

Australian teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis is one win away from securing a spot in the French Open main draw.

Australian teenage tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis

Australian teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis is one win away from securing a spot in the French Open. (AAP)

Australian tennis teen Thanasi Kokkinakis is on the cusp of a second grand slam main draw appearance after progressing to the final stage of French Open qualifying.

The 18-year-old defeated Belgian Niels Desein 6-4 6-2 at Roland Garros on Thursday.

He will face Croatian Ante Pavic on Friday, with the winner gaining a start in the men's singles.

Kokkinakis made an impressive grand slam debut after being handed a wildcard entry at the Australian Open, defeating Igor Sijsling in the first round before losing to Rafael Nadal.

World No.321 Kokkinakis has arrived in Paris in good form, reaching the semi-finals of a Challenger tournament in Germany last week.

Fellow Australians James Duckworth and Sam Groth are also still alive in qualifying.

Duckworth beat Slovakian 3-6 7-5 6-3 Blaz Kavcic on Thursday while Groth progressed when Belgian Maxime Authom retired while trailing the Australian 3-0 in the deciding set.

All are looking to join Lleyton Hewitt, Bernard Tomic, Marinko Matosevic, Matt Ebden and Nick Kyrgios in the main draw.

Jarmila Gajdosova and Olivia Rogowska have reached the second round of women's qualifying as they look to get a start alongside Samantha Stosur, Casey Dellacqua and Ashleigh Barty.


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Source: AAP


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