Fighting trio Storm Hunter, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Jason Kubler have given Australia a flying start to the French Open in Paris
The former world No 1 junior battled away for almost three and a half hours to see off Argentine qualifying lucky loser Facundo Diaz Acosta 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 to give Australia an unlikely three-from-three start at the year’s second grand slam.
Hunter had fallen in the first round of all seven of her previous grand-slam main-draw appearances – five times at the Australian Open and at the 2021 French and US Opens. But the unsung hero of Australia’s charge to the final of last year’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals teams’ event once again rose to the occasion.
Ranked 110 places below Parrizas Diaz at world No 204, Hunter refused to throw in the towel after surrendering a 4-2 lead to drop the first set after losing four straight games. She had fought desperately to claim the first service break of the match on her fifth opportunity in the sixth game, before briefly losing her way.
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