Author: Australian Associated Press

• Last Australian player in singles draw is defeated

• Kasatkina loses 6-0, 7-5 to world No 1 in Paris

Australia’s lukewarm challenge at a boiling French Open is over after Daria Kasatkina was beaten 6-0, 7-5 by the world No 1, Aryna Sabalenka.

Kasatkina became the last of Australia’s 13 singles contenders to bite the red dust before the end of the first week, a battling fightback almost inevitably denied by Sabalenka, who will face Naomi Osaka in the last 16.

• Australian goes down 0-6 6-2 6-2 6-3 to Jakub Mensik

• No 8 seed will rue a golden chance to advance in Paris

Alex de Minaur was blown out of the French Open just when opportunity had knocked deafeningly for all the would-be contenders.

With Jannik Sinner’s sensational exit having made everyone believe their chance could be at hand, de Minaur’s enduring dream was this time dynamited by young Czech powerhouse Jakub Mensik 0-6 6-2 6-2 6-3 in the third round.

• Queenslander holds nerve to win 6-2 1-6 6-1 1-6 6-4

• Alex de Minaur into third round after opponent injured

Wildcard Adam Walton has pulled off the biggest victory of his career at the French Open, staying cool in the Paris heat to shock a frazzled Daniil Medvedev for the second time in nine months.

His victory came as Alex de Minaur was given an unexpected but welcome free pass into the last 32 because of an injury to his dangerous second-round opponent.

• Alex de Minaur disposes of qualifier in straight sets

• Daria Kasatkina also wins in Paris heat

Thanasi Kokkinakis has roared back from the brink of defeat after four-and-a-quarter hours in sweltering Paris heat to launch another trademark five-set comeback at the French Open.

On a manic, mixed Monday for Australia’s elite, with Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina also braving “brutal” conditions to prevail, injury-plagued Kokkinakis, who feared at the Australian Open his career could be finally be sunk by chronic shoulder trouble, again defied all odds to outlast French leftie Terence Atmane.