Sydney's Jordan Thompson has claimed a wildcard into the Australian Open after prevailing in a gruelling five-set play-off final in sweltering conditions at Melbourne Park.
Meanwhile, former Russian Daria Gavrilova claimed the other wildcard on offer on Sunday when she defeated Arina Rodionova in the women's singles final in straight sets.
Thompson, 20, battled second seed John-Patrick Smith for over four hours with both players cramping repeatedly in the fifth set before Thompson sealed entry into the main draw of January's Open with a 6-1 6-3 1-6 6-7 (2) 9-7 win.
With temperatures in Melbourne hovering around 32 degrees Celsius, the match became a battle of attrition as the afternoon wore on.
Thompson collapsed on the baseline in agony with scores on serve late in the fifth set as he cramped badly with Smith already receiving treatment for cramps in his chair.
Thompson was unable to jump into his serving action following the incident, but managed to hold serve in the next game to level the set at 4-4.
Smith had appeared to be handling the conditions the better of the two players, but couldn't capitalise and wilted as his younger opponent fought back. A resurgent Thompson served for the match twice and lost his serve both times before he was successful on the third occasion.
"That was the most gruelling match I've ever played in my life," Thompson said. "I'm just so happy to win it. I can't move right now, but if I go to five sets in the Australian Open hopefully I'll be fitter for this."
Thompson went into the match without having to play his semi-final against Luke Saville after the top seed pulled out with a hamstring injury.
The fifth seed, currently ranked 274th in the world, is into his second Australian Open in succession having also won last year's wildcard play-off. He is hoping to improve on his last effort where he pushed Jerzy Janowicz, then ranked 21st in the world, to five sets before bowing out.
Gavrilova, 20, knocked out top seed Olivia Rogowska at the semi-final stage and didn't lose a set for the whole tournament.
She will play in her second Australian Open in January, but she will compete as an Australian for the first time.
The right-hander was recovering from a knee reconstruction during the last Australian Open and was delighted to have won through to the main draw this time.
"Last time I watched and really wished that I was playing," Gavrilova said. "I thought 'Why did this happen to me?' "I thought about that during this match and told myself to keep fighting."
Gavrilova lost her serve in the opening game but fought back to win the first set 6-4 before closing out the match 6-2 in the second.
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