The young Queenslander’s reward for seeing off compatriot Chris O’Connell in the first match on centre court at the Launceston Regional Tennis Centre is a Tuesday morning showdown with top-ranked South African Lloyd Harris.

But while Harris progressed courtesy of a first-round bye, wildcard Ellis was delighted with his hard-fought straight sets win in the ATP Challenger tournament opener.

“That was tough,” said the Brisbane 20-year-old after a 7-6, 6-4 win.

“I was down a break after the first game and he served for the set at 5-4 but I broke back and managed to win the tie-break.

“I was up a double break in the second and he got it back to 5-4 when I broke him again to win it.

“It was a really good workout. He’s a great competitor and it’s his first tournament since coming back from injury.”

Up against players from 24 countries in the annual Launceston event, Ellis was excited about the week ahead.

“I’m really happy with that. It was my first singles win this year so it’s good to get that out of the way.

“I’m looking forward to playing the top seed next.”

Currently ranked 350^th in the world, Ellis lost in the first round of qualifying at the Australian Open earlier this month but was delighted to make the third round of the men’s doubles with Alexei Popyrin, 19, of NSW.

“It was good experience. Really good to get a couple of wins at a Grand Slam.”

Asked how he was finding the contrast from Melbourne to Launceston, Ellis said: “It’s really windy here but a good, well-run tournament with good courts. It’s my second time here, we get looked after well and it’s up there with the best tournaments in the country.”

On a hectic but sunny opening day, 32 matches were scheduled across the venue with Hobart’s Harry Bourchier, the only Tasmanian entrant in the men’s draw, opening his campaign with a win when last year’s finalist, South Australian Bradley Mousley, retired injured after losing the first-set tie-break.

Bourchier and Italian Gian Marco Moroni have been scheduled to play Tuesday’s twilight match on centre court.

Reigning champion Marc Polmans will begin his title defence on court 4 against Frenchman Tristan Lamasine who overcame Renta Tokuda, of Japan.

Qualifying in the women’s ITF Futures tournament was also held on Monday, with the first round scheduled to get underway on Tuesday.

On a largely successful day for the Aussies, Isabelle Wallace, Alison Bai, Naiktha Bains and Maddison Inglis all made straight-set winning starts.

In contrast, Taipei’s Ching-Wen Hsu and Kai-Chen Chang, Irina Ramialison, of France, American Jennifer Elie and Japan’s Momoko Kobori all dropped sets before advancing.

Canadians Leylah Annie Fernandez and Gabriela Dabrowski both overcame Japanese opponents in straight sets while Erika Sema won the all-Japanese match-up with Risa Ushijima 6-2, 6-2.

In what organisers believe is the highest quality field yet seen in the women’s tournament, top-seeded German Laura Siegemund will take on Australian Destanee Aiava on court 2 after the all-Aussie showdown between Lizette Cabrera and tournament regular Arina Rodionova.

Doubles action will also get underway on Tuesday with top-seeded Aussies Max Purcell and Luke Saville taking on Rubin Statham, of New Zealand, and Andrew Whittington, of Australia, in a twilight match on court 4.

Part of the Australian Pro Tour, a series of professional tennis events that bridge junior events and the ATP/WTA Tour, the tournaments provide an opportunity for players to earn world ranking points.