Destanee Aiava has gone from crying after her last-start loss to buzzing with excitement after snaring a wildcard for the French Open.
Aiava and fellow Aussie Tristan Schoolkate will get their main draw chances at Roland Garros in search of grand slam breakthroughs.
Ranked world No.157, Aiava made it to the second round of the Australian Open, her first main draw appearance since 2021, after taking down Belgium’s Greet Minnen in the opening round.
She got the news of her Roland Garros wildcard from Australian Billie Jean King Cup captain Sam Stosur and conceded it came as a shock having been “wallowing in my sadness” after a recent defeat.
“I’m so happy, honestly. I was not expecting it at all,” Aiava said on this week’s episode of The Sit-Down podcast.
“I literally had just lost my match last week; it was a really tight match and I was crying. And I was just like laying down, you know, wallowing in my sadness, and then I got a call from Sam [Stosur], and I was like, ‘oh, why is she calling me’? (laughter).
“She said, ‘I hope this cheers you up, to offer you the French wildcard’. And I was like, ‘Excuse me’? I had to look around to make sure like this was real life.
“I was just really happy, I was over the moon. Honestly, it’s so special and I don’t think it’s sunk in yet, but I’m training on the clay and trying to prepare as best I can.
“There’s always something good around the corner, I guess, in this sport.”
West Australian Schoolkate has enjoyed a career-best 12 months and moved to 129 in the world having captured his first ATP Challenger title at the 2024 Guangzhou International Challenger.
He made headlines at Australian Open 2025 by taking the first set against No.1 Jannik Sinner and now wanted to take advantage of his French Open opportunity.
“Thank you to Tennis Australia for this incredible opportunity,” Schoolkate said.
“My team and I have been putting in the work every day, always striving to reach new heights.
“I’m excited for the chance to compete against the world’s best on the clay in Paris.”
The addition of Aiava and Schoolkate bring the Australian contingent in Roland Garros singles to 15.
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au