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It was a day where the more fancied Australian competitors missed out on advancing to round 2 at the Australian Open.
Australia’s top-ranked female Maya Joint lost to Tereza Valentova 6-4, 6-4. Joint is ranked at no. 31. Her opponent is at no. 54.
In a night match world no. 43 Daria Kasatkina lost an up and down match 7-6(7), 0-6, 6-3 to Czechia’s Nikola Bartunkova, a qualifier.
World no. 168 Maddison Inglis on the other hand continued her run as a qualifier. Inglis faced her close friend Kimberly Birrell, the world no 76.
Other Australians that were in the winners circle included Taylah Preston, Dane Sweeny and James Duckworth.
Christopher O’Connell let a two sets to one lead slip away against qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy. The American taking the match 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-3.
Basavareddy has already made a name for himself after a “choke” celebration when he had defeated Austria’s Sebastian Ofner in the round 2 qualifying. Ofner thought he had won the match after reaching 7-1.
From there Basavareddy won the next eight of the nine points to win the tiebreak 13-11. The American has really made the most of his opponents misfortune and is now into the second round at the Australian Open.
Preston powers past Zhang
Preston played fearless tennis against China’s Zhang Shuai to storm into the second round. The world no. 161 defeating the world no. 75 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.
The pair had met a few weeks ago in Brisbane with Zhang coming out the winner. Preston said after her Australian Open win that she made a few adjustments to her game and came out the winner on a bigger stage.
“I think it makes it more special having done it here at home in Australia,” Preston said of her Grand Slam breakthrough. “It takes a lot of hard work, and I’ve been working really hard. So, it’s nice to see it somewhat pay off.”
Preston took her good form from Hobart into the match and was high on confidence. The Australian had reached the semifinals in Hobart.
“I think it makes it more special having done it here at home in Australia,” Preston said of her Grand Slam breakthrough. “It takes a lot of hard work, and I’ve been working really hard. So, it’s nice to see it somewhat pay off.”
Preston is now coached by Brett Hunter and the National Tennis Academy in Brisbane, with Ash Barty’s former coach, Craig Tyzzeer also providing some input.
Inglis gets the better of Birrell
Inglis faced Birrell for the 8th time in their head to head, with the higher ranked Birrell leading 5-2. They first met way back in 2015 in Brisbane with Birrell winning in three sets, and they faced each other twice in 2025 with Birrell coming out the winner on both occasions.
Inglis is on a good run at the Australian Open after getting through qualifying, including saving match points in her first round.
Against Birrell on John Cain Arena, it was Inglis that got off to the perfect start as she broke Birrell to love.
Inglis consolidated the break, almost to love, if not for a double fault at 40-0.
Birrell was looking shaky with error after error, some were forced due to good hitting from Inglis.
Birrell would hit back in the 8th game to level the score at 4-4.
The first set would be decided by a tiebreaker.
Inglis would get a mini-break to lead 3-1. The breaker would eventually see both players at 6-6 before a double fault from Birrell gifted Inglis a set point. The second serve was well beyond the service line.
Inglis served deep to the backhand side to force an error from Birrell and the set was hers.
It looked likely that Inglis was going to win the match in two sets after racing to a 5-2 lead with Birrell to serve.
Birrell held her nerve in the 8th game after Inglis went close to having a match point. Birrell would win four of the next five games to take the set to another tiebreaker.
Inglis held match point at 8-7 after another double fault from Birrell. Inglis could not convert but earned herself a second match point after a forehand down the line winner. Birrell hit a backhand winner to save that.
Birrell would close out the set to level it at a set a piece.
In the 9th game of the deciding set Birrell would start the game with a shot that she hit just wide. It was then Inglis that just missed a shot that would have been a winner. 15-15.
Inglis took advantage of a second serve and hit a winner down the line and move to 15-30. Another costly double fault brought up two break points, it needed just one and Inglis was serving for the match.
Inglis served out to love to claim her first main draw win in singles at the Australian Open.
The previous two Australian Open tournaments she had lost in the final round of qualifying.
Inglis was emotional when interviewed out on court as she felt for Birrell, but was also happy with her effort.
As tears flowed she said, “It feels amazing. It’s really hard to play such a good friend, the last few days have been a bit stressful.
“It was an amazing match with Kim. I absolutely adore her so it was really hard to see her on the other side. But I’m so stoked that I can play through those feelings, and being in the second round, it means the world.”
Sweeny sends Monfils packing
Dane Sweeny had fought his way into the main draw as a qualifier. The tenacious world no. 181 faced the 39-year-old Gael Monfils who had signalled that this would be his last tournament at the Australian Open.
Monfils came into the tournament at no. 110, however was ranked at no. 69 entering 2026. He would drop 250 points just before the tournament after having won the Auckland ATP 250 title in January, 2025.
The first set saw no breaks, although Sweeny had to save several break points in the 11th game.
The veteran Frenchman would get the first mini-break on the first point and he would cruise to claim the breaker.
Monfils broke in the 8th game to lead 5-3 in the second set. You would have picked him to serve out the set, but Sweeny had other ideas.
On game point for Monfils it was Sweeny that went on the attack and he was rewarded when he found his way to the net to put away an easy volley. The crowd was now right behind the Aussie.
Another winner came for Sweeny after Monfils half volleyed a big return that popped up in the air, Sweeny smashed it away. An error from Monfils and it was back on serve.
Sweeny would hold and then break serve and hold again to claim the second set.
It was late in the second set where Monfils would now frequently bend over and feel his knee.
During the set break Monfils was having tape applied to his fingers.
The score would be 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4, 7-5.
In the third set Sweeny broke his opponent in the third game after the Frenchman netted a backhand on the first point and then an attempted drop shot went wide. Two more errors from Monfils at the backend of the game delivered the break to Sweeny
The Frenchman was clearly hampered with his movement and Sweeny had to manage the situation and not overplay his shots.
Monfils would hit winners at times, but mostly it was Sweeny looking for the open court to win points.
The fourth set started with a long game with Monfils serving, he would hold. Sweeny then let Monfils back into the match when he dropped a service game for Monfils to lead 3-1.
The world no. 110 would hold serve and lead 4-1.
A key game was played with Monfils serving at 4-2. There were game point for Monfils but a costly error at 40-15 saw one gone. A big down the line winner from Sweeny got it to deuce.
Points would go back and forth before Sweeny claimed the break.
In the next game Sweeny had to save a break point before claiming the game to level the score at 4-4.
Monfils next won to love for 5-4. Sweeny matching that effort for 5-5.
In the 11th game Monfils hit a shot from right on the net well wide to gift Sweeny the opening point. A tired looking backhand from the Frenchman and his was down 0-30.
Sweeny would not clear the net to take the score to 15-30. Monfils blasted a forehand just wide and Sweeny was at 15-40. Monfils stayed in the game with some winners before back-to-back errors saw Sweeny at 6-5 and serving for his first ever main draw win at a grand slam.
A forehand hit well wide my Monfils gave Sweeny two match points. A weak return gave Sweeny an opening down the line and he hit the winner before falling to the ground.
The Frenchman was presented with a momento from tournament director Craig Tiley. Tiley pointed out that Monfils was one of six men to have played 20 Australian Opens. He first played in 2005 against Robby Ginepri.
Monfils lost a five set match against Matteo Berrettini in the 2022 quarterfinals and in four at the same stage in 2018, losing to Milos Raonic.
Monfils will finish his career with a 37-20 record at Melbourne Park.
“I’ve got a lot of great memories here. A couple of big battles. Quarters, fourth round, even today was almost four hours,” said the former No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “For Dane, you guys did an amazing job [supporting him]. I read his story. This kid got hurt, so I really wish [him] good luck for the next one, because he is playing very good. Good luck to him.
“I am very grateful. I’ve been very lucky to play here for many years, so lastly thank you very much, merci beaucoup, a bientot les amis (thank you very much, see you soon, friends).”
Duckworth wins in five
James Duckworth fought back from two sets down against lucky loser Dino Prizmic.
The final score was 7-6(4), 3-6, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, the match lasting four hours and 21 minutes.
There wasn’t a lot of love from Prizmic at the handshake.
Speaking in the press conference after the match Duckworth said, ” Um yeah, really really pumped, I was in a bit of trouble there to to one down, but yeah, really happy with with how I turned it around and yeah, excited to to be, you know, in the second round”.
Duckworth’s reward for his win is a match against two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner, most likely to be played on Rod Laver Arena.
Unlike Alex de Minaur, Duckworth has a win against Sinner, he got the better of him at the ATP Masters 1000 in Canada, back in 2021. Sinner has improved a lot since then.
