Even though Jin Woodman’s Roland Garros debut did not eventuate in a triumph, it has further whet the appetite of an athlete following the tracks of Australian tennis greats.

Awarded the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Junior of the Year in 2025, the 17-year-old is in the transition stage of his career into senior ranks and trying to absorb as much as he can.

The Melburnian could not have asked for a stiffer task than to draw double-defending Roland Garros champion Guy Sasson in the quad wheelchair singles that began Wednesday.

Sasson, who aged 46 is not far off being three times Woodman’s age, ultimately progressed to the semi-finals with a 6-2 6-2 triumph in a match tighter than the scoreline suggests.

“Just playing him was a good experience for me, just seeing where I am based. The match was actually much closer than the score because nearly every game went to deuce,” Woodman said. 

“He was just playing better since he's so experienced and I'm still growing. But I am taking every chance I have just playing these top guys and it is actually helping my game. I'm not upset about the loss because it's just a great experience.

“Playing from a junior level and transferring to a senior level at such a young age is a huge difference. These people have been playing way longer than I have, and second of all, there are also differences in that I'm not used to the pace of their ball - it's heavier - though they're not used to mine.”

Woodman’s debut at Roland Garros, which will continue with doubles, is just one of the special experiences about this trip to Paris for the No. 1 in the ITF Cruyff Foundation Junior Boys' Rankings.

From his hotel the Aussie can see the top of the Eiffel Tower and is hopeful of visiting the landmark and other famous Paris sites when his tournament obligations are completed. 

But even the experience of playing on the clay at Roland Garros is special. He trains on clay at the National Tennis Centre in Melbourne but said the Paris clay was remarkably smooth.

He is also looking forward to the challenge of playing at Wimbledon for the first time in July and said friends, including experienced Australian star Heath Davidson, are offering their tips.

“He's played these guys before and he's helped me along the way from being an up-and-coming junior to becoming 17-years-old and playing at Roland Garros for the first time,” Woodman said.

“He's just given me a pathway of what is possible, what I can believe in, and made me believe that the sky has no limit.”

Australian legend Dylan Alcott, who completed the Golden Grand Slam in quad singles in 2021 and also partnered Davidson to several doubles titles, played a key role in helping Woodman into the sport by providing his first playing chair.

Woodman, who attends a specialist sport school in Melbourne, is balancing his education with his desire to transition into senior ranks, and is determined to follow their leads on court.

“I give credit to Dylan as well because I watched him every single Australian Open. I've always said to myself that one day I want to play in the Australian Open, or any of the grand slams, and follow his footsteps,” he said.

“He funded my very first chair. There was a charity where all the money goes to disability, so I was the first one to receive a chair from him, so that meant a lot for me. 

“I constantly have the reminder of what he did for me, and now it is my turn to give back to the sport now.”

In the other quad singles matches completed on Wednesday, Dutch duo Niels Vink and Sam Schroder, along with Ahmet Kaplan from Turkey, all progressed with ease.

You can follow all the results from the Roland Garros Wheelchair Championships draw here.