Samantha Stosur is revelling in her role as once more a French Open title fancy after ending Australia's dismal start to the claycourt grand slam with a gritty first-round win over Kristina Kucova.
Saving Australia from a horror none-from-seven opening, Stosur's 7-5 6-1 victory extended her winning streak to six in eight days and confirmed the four-time semi-finalist and former runner-up's status as a bona fide championship contender.
Once burdened by the pressure of expectation, Stosur is embracing her time in the spotlight.
"That's a great thing," the 23rd seed said after backing up her Strasbourg International final triumph on Saturday.
"I've obviously had great results here in the past. It's a surface that I enjoy playing on and even up until last week I still felt like I was playing well throughout the clay season and was getting better and better as the weeks were going on, and I guess I proved that to myself last week.
"Look, it's a good position to be in."
The victory was the first for Australia's 11-strong singles contingent after the early exits of Daria Gavrilova, Alja Tomljanovic, Jaimee Fourlis, Bernard Tomic, John Millman and Alex De Minaur.
"It wasn't, obviously, the easiest necessarily preparation going into a grand slam," Stosur said of her one-day build-up in Paris.
"But, on the other hand, winning a title and winning five matches in a row is awesome preparation."
Stosur next faces Kirsten Flipkens for a place in the last 32, after advancing to the second round for the 11th consecutive year.
Stosur leads the Belgian 2-1 head to head but hasn't played her on clay, or since 2014.
"But (coach) Josh (Eagle) is out there now watching so I'm sure he'll have a bit of feedback and we can discuss a few things tomorrow in practice," she said.
After a manic day between Strasbourg and her Roland Garros opener, Stosur is now hoping to return to routine tournament mode - and to settle in for the long haul.
"I'm looking forward to just getting back to where I'm staying and going out for dinner and not feeling all frantic," Stosur said.
"(Instead of) 'Got to go here, practice, get your badge, get your clothes', do all that stuff.
"So it will be nice to have kind of a bit more of a chill-out day tomorrow and then obviously be ready for my next match."
AUSSIES IN ACTION AT THE FRENCH OPEN ON WEDNESDAY (PREFIX DENOTES SEEDING):
Women's singles, second round
23-Samantha Stosur v Kirsten Flipkens (BEL).
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