After showing a recent liking for clay, rising Australian tennis star Ash Barty has been handed a wildcard into this month’s French Open.

Barty, 17, recorded an impressive Fed Cup win over world No.56 Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland last month, helping Australia retain a place in the world group.

She also reached the semi-finals of a second-tier claycourt event in the US in April.

“On the back of her crucial match win in Fed Cup, Ash looks primed for grand slam success in the near future,” said Tennis Australia’s head of professional tennis Todd Woodbridge.

“That Fed Cup win on clay against Voegele gave her great confidence and belief that she can perform with the world’s best.

“The experiences that she’s had in the past 12 months, such as taking out former French Open champ Francesca Schiavone at the Hopman Cup, have highlighted her talent.”

Under a reciprocal deal with the French Tennis Federation, Australia are given one men’s and one women’s wildcard each year into the French Open main draw.

The men’s wildcard went to the fast-improving John Millman.

The world No.141 recently won three matches to qualify for the main draw of the ATP event in Munich.

Australian Open boys champion Nick Kyrgios was awarded a wildcard into qualifying for the French Open, which runs from May 26 to June 9 at Roland Garros.