Tour veteran Andrea Petkovic says Destanee Aiava has a big future after being pushed to three sets by the Australian teenager in their opening Kooyong Classic match.
Petkovic, a former world No.9, fought her way back from a slow start to triumph 3-6 6-3 6-2.
The 30-year-old German was impressed by 17-year-old Aiava, who last month won a wildcard into her second Australian Open.
"I think she has a bright future if she continues like this," Petkovic said.
"Her serve is amazing and her groundstrokes are really powerful, so she can do really well."
Aiava wasn't too bothered by the result, feeling that her Open preparation was tracking well.
"I don't think it really matters right now, the big one is the Australian Open and my main focus is that," Aiava said.
"I'm preparing really well for it and this is just match play."
In the opening men's match in the eight-man field, Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta came from behind to overcome in-form world No.7 David Goffin 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.
Goffin served for the match in the second set but the world No.10 found his range to push it to a tiebreak before winning it, then the third 6-3.
Meanwhile, six-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will make his eagerly awaited first appearance of the summer, hoping to shake off some cobwebs at Kooyong on Wednesday.
Djokovic, who has been sidelined since Wimbledon in July after suffering an elbow injury, has slipped down the rankings to world No.14.
He will play an exhibition match against world No. 5 Dominic Thiem before backing up for the Tie Break Tens on Wednesday night at Melbourne Park.
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