On the warmest morning of the championships in Paris, Australia's number one encountered a rising clay-court star in the hottest of form as Etcheverry ousted the Sydneysider 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 6-3.

Another Australian to exit the men's draw was Max Purcell, who lost to Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4.

The departure of de Minaur and Purcell leaves Thanasi Kokkinakis as the only Australian left in the singles' main draw.

Not for the first time in his battling career, de Minaur found himself faced with an adversary who had too much firepower as his ambition to reach the third round in Paris for the first time in seven attempts foundered in the sunshine on court 14.

As usual, there was nothing wrong with the 18th seed's heart as he scrapped valiantly on Thursday, particularly in saving four set points in the second set.

Yet he was constantly scurrying on the back foot against the powerful Etcheverry, who looks like one to watch after reaching three clay-court finals already this season.

The pair had not met since their junior days — since when the 23-year-old Etcheverry has sprouted to 1.96m — and the unseeded world number 49 packed too much of a punch for the slight figure who's one year his senior, cracking 24 winners and forcing 41 errors from de Minaur.

After starting brightly, de Minaur had three break points to go up 4-3 — but once the Argentine had repelled them, he cashed in to run away with the set, and from then on put pressure on the Australian with his superior weight of shot.

De Minaur, coming up with some dazzling shots under the cosh, worked wonders to save three set points at 5-6 and break back to take the second set into a tiebreak, but too many careless errors — he made 53 unforced mistakes throughout the match — soon left Etcheverry in complete control.

When de Minaur clocked a forehand wide in the fourth game of the third set, the writing was on the wall and, after two hours 45 minutes when the Australian hit a backhand long, Etcheverry could celebrate reaching the third round of a slam for the first time.

Source | AAP