James Duckworth has emerged victorious in an all-Australian battle with Omar Jasika on the first day of qualifying at Melbourne Park.
Duckworth, who is bidding to play in his seventh-straight Australian Open main draw, won 6-2 6-4 in a surprisingly quick defeat of his compatriot; surprising, because Duckworth hadn’t won a match in a year.
The 25-year-old suffered his worst season on tour in 2017, crashing off the circuit after last year’s Australian Open with a serious of injuries – all requiring surgery.
A stress fracture in the foot was followed by a shoulder injury, with another foot complaint rounding out Duckworth’s horror year.
“I’m just happy to get through. It’s my second match in a year,” he told AAP.
“I feel pretty good. It’s mostly trying to get confidence in my body. Being out there playing matches will install a bit more.
“I love this tournament, it’s my favourite tournament in the world. Playing main draw is obviously the goal and I’m going to do everything I can to get in that draw.
“I’ll get better from here.”
The loss means 2014 junior US Open champion Omar Jasika, 20, will miss the Australian Open for the first time since making the second round on debut in 2016.
Three other Australians have safely progressed to the second round.
Bradley Mousley has been the most impressive winner taking out Italian third seed and world No.106 Marco Cecchinato 6-3 7-6 (7-3).
John-Patrick Smith and Andrew Whittington also won in the first round.
Blake Ellis, Dayne Kelly, Marc Polmans and former world No.39 Marinko Matosevic crashed out in their first match.
Others, including Bernard Tomic and Sam Groth, play later on Wednesday.
Qualifiers need to win three matches to reach the 128-man field at the Open, which begins on Monday.
STATE OF THE AUSSIE MEN AT MELBOURNE PARK
Qualifying round one winners
John-Patrick Smith – def Aldin Setkic (Bosnia-Herzegovina) 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3
James Duckworth – def Omar Jasika 6-2 6-4
Bradley Mousley – def 3-Marco Cecchinato (Italy) 6-3 7-6 (7-3)
Andrew Whittington – def Michael Mmoh (USA) 7-6 (7-2) 6-1
To play later on Wednesday
29-Bernard Tomic – Vincent Millot (France)
Max Purcell – Dmitry Popko (Kazakhstan)
Sam Groth – 1-Taylor Fritz (USA)
Maverick Banes – 24-Norbert Gombos (Slovakia)
Qualifying round one losers
Blake Ellis – lost to Stefan Kozlov (USA) 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-7 (3-7)
Dayne Kelly – lost to Di Wu (China) 1-6 6-7 (5-7)
Omar Jasika – lost to James Duckworth 2-6 4-6
Marc Polmans – lost to Darian King (Barbados) 2-6 6-7 (3-7)
Marinko Matosevic – lost to Dennis Novikov (USA) 306 6-7 (3-7)
Main draw entry: Nick Kyrgios, Matthew Ebden, Jordan Thompson, John Millman.
Wildcards into main draw: Alex de Minaur, Alex Bolt, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Alexei Popyrin, Jason Kubler.