Unheralded Queenslander Kaylah McPhee is a step closer to her first grand slam appearance after an Australian Open qualifying win.
The 20-year-old defeated Liechtensteiner Kathinka von Deichmann 6-3 6-4 on Wednesday to move into the second round of qualifying.
Naiktha Bains joined her as one of five Australian first-round qualifying winners when she bested countrywoman Maddison Inglis 6-3 5-7 7-5.
But there was more disappointment than delight on Melbourne Park’s outside courts for Australians, with two wins and six losses so far on day two of qualifying.
John-Patrick Smith will miss out on an eighth-straight main draw appearance after losing to 19th seed Matthias Bachinger 7-5 6-3.
Former junior star Luke Saville’s hopes of returning to his local major for the first time since 2015 were also laid to rest by Mats Moraing, who defeated him 6-4 7-5.
Gabriella Da Silva Fick put up the sternest resistance in a 6-4 4-6 6-3 loss to Ludmilla Samsonova, while Abbie Myers and Arina Rodionova lost in straight sets.
McPhee, the world No.350, won through in 1hr 20min in her first grand slam qualifying appearance.
The Brisbane local’s success was just her third career win over a player ranked in the sport’s top 200.
McPhee will play seasoned Japanese professional and third seed Misaki Doi on Friday in the second round as she bids to reach the main draw.
The other two Australian women to win through to the second round – Tuesday winners Isabelle Wallace and Lizette Cabrera – could meet in the third and final round.
Of seven completed tussles, Thanasi Kokkinakis is the sole Australian man to emerge successfully from a first round battle.
The injury-struck emerging star defeated Mohamed Safwat 6-2 7-6 (7-4) to set up a second-round clash with Austria’s Sebastian Ofner, the world No.180, on Thursday.
Akira Santillan, Maverick Banes and Max Purcell have late matches on Wednesday as they seek to keep their hopes of playing in the year’s first major alive.
LOCALS IN AUSTRALIAN OPEN QUALIFYING
Winners: Men – Thanasi Kokkinakis. Women – Lizette Cabrera, Isabelle Wallace, Kaylah McPhee, Naiktha Bains.
Losers: Men – Blake Ellis, Rinky Hijikata, John-Patrick Smith, Aleksandar Vukic, Alexander Crnokrak, Luke Saville. Women – Gabriella Da Silva Fick, Jaimee Fourlis, Abbie Myers, Arina Rodionova, Maddison Inglis.
