World No.1 Ashleigh Barty will lead an 18-strong local assault on the Australian Open after only one of 22 hopefuls survived the qualifying event.
Sydney’s Max Purcell was the only Australian to qualify for the singles main draws after Destanee Aiava and Aleksandar Vukic stumbled at the final hurdle on Saturday.
Melbourne’s Aiava was up a break in the first set against Antonia Lottner before the German regrouped and cruised to a 6-4 6-2 win on Court 8.
Vukic was unable to put any pressure on Daniel Elahi Galan’s serve, failing to convert on two break points, as the Colombian won 6-3 6-2.
Purcell bolstered Australia’s contingent in the men’s singles to 11 after qualifying for his grand slam debut at Melbourne Park.
With Alex de Minaur withdrawing with an abdominal tear, 23rd seed Nick Kyrgios will lead the local charge.
Joining the former quarter-finalist and Purcell are John Millman, Jordan Thompson, Alexei Popyrin, James Duckworth, Chris O’Connell, Andrew Harris, John-Patrick Smith, Marc Polmans and Alex Bolt.
Barty is among seven Australians in the women’s event.
The top seed has veteran Samantha Stosur, fellow Fed Cup teammate Ajla Tomljanovic and wildcards Lizette Cabrera, Priscilla Hon, Astra Sharma and Arina Rodionova for company as she tries to break the 42-year home title drought.
Barty, opens her campaign against world No.120 Lesia Tsurenko on Monday, along with Stosur, Millman, Cabrera, Millman, Thompson, Harris, Smith and Polmans.
Kyrgios and the others have Tuesday starts.