Sara Tomic admits trying to be too much like her brother contributed to her first-round loss at the Australian Open qualifying event on Thursday.

Despite a hard-fought second set where she broke serve three times, Bernard’s younger sister was too often outclassed by her experienced Russian opponent Ekaterina Bychkova, losing 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-1.

A massive 72 unforced errors dwarfed Tomic’s 34 winners and led to her demise in a match watched by her controversial father John, who returned to Melbourne Park for the first time since his 12-month tour ban expired.

In contrast, the 29-year-old Bychkova matched 14 winners with only 16 unforced errors.

“Sometimes I was too aggressive,” Sara Tomic conceded.

“I was going for winners too much.

“Sometimes I think I’m Bernard, going through the line too much.”

There were some highlights for the 16-year-old Tomic who was exceptional at the net and during extended rallies.

“There’s a lot to learn from this experience for me,” she said.

Australian Anastasia Rodionova will meet former world No.11 Shahar Peer in the second round after both tempted defeat before claiming three-set wins.

Rodionova was her usual vocal self as she struggled to put away overcome Russian Marina Melnikova, eventually winning 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 in two hours and 16 minutes.

Rodionova had several chances to close out a straight-sets win, including a double fault at 5-all in the tiebreak.

“I’ll try not to do that tomorrow,” she said.

“I definitely didn’t play my best and I’m happy to get through that match.

“You prepare for the Australian Open thinking it will be 40 degrees and it’s really cold today, so it’s really different.”

Israeli Peer fought off a match point before winning 10 of the final 13 games to down Canada’s Francoise Abanda 3-6 7-5 6-3.

Australian wildcards Priscilla Hon, Naiktha Bains and Maddison Inglis all exited in straight sets, while countrywomen Olivia Tjandramulia and Kim Birrell also bowed out.