From a Centrelink queue to the French Open in one year for Aussie Chris O’Connell

Australian Chris O’Connell has been rewarded for his progression on the global tennis tour with a wildcard entry into the French Open in Paris.

Aussie Chris O'Connell is a prospect capable of pushing further up the rankings, starting at the French Open.

Sydneysider Chris O’Connell, who was in the dole queue less than a year ago, will make his Roland Garros debut later this month after receiving a wildcard into the French Open.

The late-blooming right-hander reached the second rounds at both the US and Australian Opens in his last two grand slams and has been identified as a prospect capable of pushing further up the rankings.

O’Connell, who was a prolific winner on secondary circuits in the infancy of his career before struggling with injuries, has performed soundly since rekindling his love of the sport a couple of years ago.

Australian tennis player Chris O'Connell has earnt a wildcard entry into the French Open. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

The 26-year-old, who defeated German Davis Cup representative Jan Lennard Struff in the Australian Open earlier this year, claimed a couple of Challenger tier tournaments in 2019 in a sign of his progress.

O’Connell, who cleaned boats for a period on Sydney’s north shore during his time away from tennis, has not played since falling in the opening round of the Miami Open.

He decided to rest and receive treatment in Croatia for an ankle problem that first flared last October leading into what will be a busy period abroad with three grand slam events in the next four months.

The ankle has responded to the treatment and O’Connell, who is ranked 128, is excited by the opportunity ahead.

It is a turn in fortunes from a year ago when he joined the Centrelink queue during the midst of the pandemic, which saw the tennis circuit shutdown between March and August.

Western Australian Astra Sharma was announced earlier this week as the women’s wildcard recipient under the reciprocal agreement Tennis Australia has with the French Tennis Federation.

Sharma claimed a maiden WTA Tour title in Charleston in April and is considered a player capable of pushing well inside the top 100.

Originally published as From a Centrelink queue to the French Open in one year for Aussie Chris O’Connell