Olivia Rogowska is poised to break her second-round duck at Melbourne Park after becoming the first Australian woman to win through at the Australian Open on Monday.
The unseeded 26-year-old wildcard, ranked 168 in the world, outlasted compatriot Jaimee Fourlis to post a 6-2 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 win in a two-hour, all-Australian encounter.
The Melbourne native will now meet Ukrainian qualifier Marta Kostyuk for a chance at a career-best third-round Australian Open appearance.
"The draw could be tougher," Rogowska, who hasn't progressed past the first round at her home grand slam since 2014, told reporters about Kostyuk.
"But I'm not going to take her lightly whatsoever. She's obviously young and hitting the ball loose, got nothing to lose, so it's a very a dangerous opponent."
Rogowska recovered from a blown second-set tiebreaker to jump out to a 5-1 lead in the final set against the 18-year-old wildcard playoff winner before cooly sealing the deal on serve.
Windy conditions wreaked havoc, with both players making repeated unforced errors.
The victorious local said she would use the win as a confidence-booster, despite playing well below her best.
"I didn't feel like I played well," Rogowska said, admitting to some mid-match nerves.
"When I lost that second set, I just tried to (think) clean slate and I played a pretty solid third set (that) got me over the line.
"But just mentally today was a good day - I didn't let anything get to me."
