Wallace wins French Open wildcard play-off

Little-known Isabelle Wallace has won Australia's wildcard play-off to secure her ticket to the French Open starting in Paris next Sunday.

French Open Tennis Championships

Australian tennis player Isabelle Wallace has qualified for the French Open. Source: AAP

Unheralded Isabelle Wallace will make her grand slam debut at the French Open after winning Australia's wildcard playoff in Paris.

The Spain-based 21-year-old rallied past Olivia Rogowska 6-1 5-7 6-3 in Sunday's playoff final to join Ashleigh Barty, Daria Gavrilova, Samantha Stosur and Ajla Tomljanovic in the main draw for the clay-court major starting next Sunday.

Ranked 249th in the world, Wallace's only previous grand slam attempt ended in a first-round qualifying loss at the Australian Open in January.

While Wallace can prepare for the biggest match of her life, and biggest pay cheque of her career, Rogowska will now join fellow Australians Arina Rodionova, Lizette Cabrera and Priscilla Hon in the qualifying event getting underway at Roland Garros on Monday.

Australia so far have five players in the men's main draw, headed by Nick Kyrgios - if he proves his fitness playing doubles this week in Lyon after being sidelined for six weeks with an elbow injury.

The world No.25 returned home to Canberra last month for treatment, including cortisone, and rehab and is now in Europe racing the clock to be fit for the season's second slam.

The two-time grand slam quarter-finalist is partnering American Jack Sock in Lyon, the pair scheduled to face Joao Sousa and Federico Delbonis in the first round on Tuesday.

If he makes it to Paris, Kyrgios will be joined in the main draw by John Millman, Matt Ebden, Jordan Thompson and teenage wildcard recipient Alex de Minaur.

Thanasi Kokkinakis, also injury permitting, and Bernard Tomic plan to contest qualifying.


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Source: AAP, SBS

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Wallace wins French Open wildcard play-off | SBS Sport