Comeback kid 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. But then he'd only played two.
The 25-year-old suffered his worst season on tour in 2017, crashing off the circuit after last year's Australian Open with a series of injuries - all requiring surgery.
A stress fracture in the foot was followed by a shoulder injury, with a nerve issue in his foot rounding out Duckworth's horror year.
"I'm just happy to get through," he told AAP.
"It's mostly trying to get confidence in my body. Being out there playing matches will install a bit more.
"I'm not expecting to play my best tennis but I'm quietly confident that if I can serve well I can do some damage and win a few more matches.
"I love this tournament, it's my favourite tournament in the world."
The loss is a setback for the development of Jasika, the 2014 junior US Open champion.
The 20-year-old will miss his home grand slam for the first time since making the second round on debut in 2016.
At least five Australians safely progressed to the second round.
Bernard Tomic made mincemeat of French opponent Vincent Millot, winning 6-1 6-3 in just 48 minutes.
Bradley Mousley also impressed, 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, with Max Purcell to play late on Wednesday.
Dayne Kelly, Marc Polmans and former world No.39 Marinko Matosevic crashed out in their first match.
Sam Groth, Blake Ellis and Maverick Banes suffered the pain of third-set tiebreak losses.
Groth's loss ends his singles career, having previously given his intent to leave professional tennis at the end of the Open.
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
Bernard Tomic - def Vincent Millot (France) 6-1 6-3
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
Qualifying round one losers
Sam Groth - lost to 1-Taylor Fritz (USA) 4-6 6-3 6-7 (3-7)
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) 3-6 6-7 (3-7)
Maverick Banes - lost to 24-Norbert Gombos (Slovakia) 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-7 (5-7)
Main draw entry: Nick Kyrgios, Matthew Ebden, Jordan Thompson, John Millman.
Wildcarded into main draw: Alex de Minaur, Alex Bolt, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Alexei Popyrin, Jason Kubler.
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