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For the first time in seven years, Australia has six male players in the second round of qualifying for their home event, the Australian Open.
This has only happened twice in qualifying since 11 made the same stage in 1998.
Leading the charge for the Australians was 17-year-old Omar Jasika.
Jasika, who made his debut in qualifying, accounted for Mathias Bourgue 7-5 6-4 in the first completed match by an Australian. In a topsy-turvy match, the duo traded breaks, until the Australian got on top in both sets at critical times.
It was a busy day for the Victorian local, who later faced and lost to Rafael Nadal in the new Fast 4 format at Margaret Court Arena.
Awaiting Jasika in the second round will be fellow Australian John-Patrick Smith. Smith, who almost won a wildcard at the Australian Open wildcard playoff in December, defeated up-and-coming youngster Alexander Zverev, 7-6 6-4.
After being down a break in the first set, Smith fought back impressively, as he frustrated his younger opponent with variety in each point. He knows he faces a challenge against his younger counterpart in Round 2.
“It will be a tough match,” Smith said. “They [Omar Jasika and Alexander Zverev] are playing with nothing to lose and everyone wants to win.”
The winner of this match, which is on later today, will become the first Australian to play in the final round of qualifying since Carsten Ball in 2012.
Jasika was one of three Victorians who progressed on Day 1, with Andrew Harris and Marc Polmans also winning in their home-town event.
Harris, who made the second round of qualifying last year, accounted for Jesse Huta Galung 6-3 7-6 in one of the final matches of the day. It continued his recent run of form, which included a semi-final appearance at the ATP Challenger event in Happy Valley in South Australia. He will now face the fifth seed Andreas Beck for a final-round spot in the draw.
Polmans was impressive as he defeated Jordi Samper-Montana 7-6 6-1 in 88 minutes. After making his debut last year, and only winning three games in his match, it was a good response by one of Australia’s best juniors.
“It’s a great feeling, one step closer to the main draw. I’m enjoying playing against the top players,” Polmans said.
The 17-year-old added that to transition from the juniors to the professionals, he needed to attack more, and he did that today.
“Last year I lost a lot of matches where I was being very defensive.
“In the professionals, none of them grind, they can hit winners and do whatever they want with it.
“If I want to become a professional I’ve got to be able to hit the ball.”
Polmans will now play Tim Smyczek in Round 2.
It was also a good day for another junior, Blake Mott. In his second appearance in qualifying, after losing in three sets last year, the New South Welshman defeated Arthur De Greef 6-4 7-5.
For Mott it was a relief to finally secure a win after some tough losses in the past 12 months.
“I’ve been playing some really good tennis [recently in Sydney and Brisbane],” he said.
“Against [Tobias] Kamke [in Brisbane] it was probably the best I’ve played.
“[It is] a bit of weight off my shoulders [to win a match]. Now I know I can play at this level.”
Mott will now face Alexander Kudryavtsev in the next round.
Fellow New South Welshman Dane Propoggia was the final Aussie to win on Day 1, defeating Britain’s Brydan Klein 6-4 6-4 to set up a meeting with James McGee.
While some six Australians had good days, six others didn’t fare so well.
The state of Queensland struggled as three of their four players in the draw were defeated.
Wildcards Gavin Van Peperzeel and Maverick Banes both lost in straight sets – Van Peperzeel was defeated by Maxime Authom 6-2 6-3, with Banes losing to Jared Donaldson 6-3 6-2.
Fellow Queenslander Ben Mitchell, who replaced Matt Ebden in the mixed doubles at the Hopman Cup, was defeated by Illya Marchenko 7-6 6-4 on Show Court 3.
It also wasn’t a good day for Ebden, who lost in three sets to Matthias Bachinger, 4-6 7-6 6-3.
After recovering from the calf injury suffered at the Hopman Cup, Ebden played well for a set and a half, as he created two match points against the German. Unfortunately for the Western Australian, he couldn’t complete the match, as Bachinger won the final two sets.
In the final matches of the day featuring Australians, Matt Reid was defeated by Axel Michon 7-5 6-4, with Harry Bourchier outclassed by Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-0 6-2.
Today sees the start of the women’s qualifying for the event, with eight Australians involved after seven received wildcards.
After the women’s matches, the men’s second round matches will be completed. All six Australians who won today are expected to feature.
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