De Minaur sets up tricky clash after ruthless opener

Alex de Minaur has progressed to the second round of the French Open with a straight sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win against Toby Samuel.

With the temperature pushing over 30 degrees in Paris during de Minaur's midday match, the Aussie had to battle home-like conditions to open his account.

De Minaur dominated when it came to winners, hitting 27 to Samuel's 19. Samuel also had 40 unforced errors as opposed to the Aussie's 24.

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At the net, de Minaur was ruthless too, winning 18 out of 19 points.

For 23-year-old Samuel it ends an inspiring run after he won three qualifier matches to progress to the first round. 

De Minaur will now face 37th-ranked Belgian young gun Alexander Blockx in the second round.

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British commentator Colin Fleming said de Minaur's focus can't go past that match, when asked if he could reach the quarter-finals again like he did in 2024. 

"Yeah if he can really find his form, his rhythm and get the confidence back where it can be, he's well capable," he said on Stan Sport's coverage.

"But we've mentioned it before and we'll mention it again, he's got a really tough second round against Alexander Blockx so that's all he can focus on."

De Minaur didn't get past the second round at last year's French Open when he lost in five sets against Alexander Bublik.

His previous encounter with Blockx was in April this year at the Monte-Carlo Masters. De Minaur won 7-5, 7-6(4).

De Minaur was in action at the same time as other Aussie Emerson Jones, who was making her French Open debut.

Jones unfortunately copped one of Iga Swiatek's most dominant performances on Court Philippe-Chatrier with the Polish star winning 6-1, 6-2.

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