Alex de Minaur finds his feet on clay to reach second round of French Open

For a man who moves so swiftly around a tennis court, the key to Alex de Minaur’s opening success at Roland Garros on Monday over Belarusian Ilya Ivashka was stillness.

There was a moment midway through the match where, as had happened in previous failed campaigns in Paris, the Australian might have lost the battle with his mind and the match.

The 18th seed dominated the first set. He was well in control of the second set as well, only to lose concentration for a few minutes, enough to find the battle back on level pegging.

But after years of turmoil on clay, De Minaur believes he has found an inner-calm on the dirt. He stilled his mind and steeled himself.

De Minaur is no longer rebelling against the shifting surface and thinking he is incapable of mastering it, saying he has learned to embrace the challenges and roll with the punches.

The 24-year-old, who had won only two matches in six previous visits to Roland Garros, spoke prior to the major about his improved mindset and subsequently delivered proof of it against Ivashka when seizing the initiative to win 6-1 5-7 6-1 6-3.

“(When) you’re in those positions, even though everything looks very calm and easy, it never is, especially on clay,” De Minaur said.

“In a split instance, everything can change. It can get frustrating at times. It’s important to be as chilled out as you can and kind of move on.

“That’s what I think I did. I was a little bit vocal in the second set, at the end of the second set. Part of what … changed the whole match was just me being a little bit more quiet and just focused and going about my own business. And it worked out.”

After a bright opening day in Paris, de Minaur was the only one of the three Australians in action to progress to the