Launceston International's 2016 winner Blake Mott overcame Japanese qualifier Noaki Tajima 4-6 6-1 6-2 to get his tournament campaign successfully underway.
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Falling marginally behind in a tight first set, frustration began to creep in for the 23-year-old before finding his rhythm to overpower his teenage opponent.
"I started off, he was playing a really high level and I felt like I was just still trying to find my range, he had a match from qualifying coming in and I had a big week last week (in Burnie)," he said.
"I really just threw in one bad service game in the first set and he took a run with that, served well and took out the set but I felt like I was in the rallies and had my chances even in the first set.
"I really raised my level and tightened up my game, didn't give him too many cheap ones and made it quite physical which was a big thing as well."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
Since taking out the tournament four years ago, Mott's tennis journey has taken a different turn - calling it quits after the 2017 US Open following years of the grind.
Returning in September last year, the New South Welshman rebuilt his love for the game, with a strong performance at the Australian Open wildcard playoff showing what he is capable of.
"After that [winning in 2016], I went on a bit of a run there and the highs and lows of tennis a little bit, I was travelling from a really young age and I was getting a little bit burnt out.
"I wasn't really enjoying it as much as I was when I was back here so I really wanted to find that again and I had a few body niggles as well.
"The whole package was just a bit tough so I had a bit of perspective outside and decided I wanted to compete again."
Standing next in his way this year is 2018 champion and old sparring partner, Marc Polmans, who comes into the tournament fresh of his first Grand Slam main-draw win.
"We used to be old training partners and share the same coach so we are real close.
"We know each other, have played each other heaps of times, grew up together so I think that it's going to be a real tough battle out there for both of us.
"Obviously he's come off some real high-confidence wins and a big run at the AO so I'll try and take my best to him and see how the battle goes out there."
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In day two's headline match, Alex Bolt took out Dayne Kelly in an intense Australian left-handed battle 7-6 6-4, while countrymen Jason Kubler and Dane Sweeny also hit the winners' list.
In women's competition Destanee Aiava, Jaimee Fourliss, Abbie Myers and Alexandra Bozovic all worked their way through with Myers rallying from 4-1 down to defeat Japan's Nagi Hanatani 7-5 6-3.
Top seed Paula Badosa started her tournament off strong, disposing of rising Australian hope Olivia Symons 6-0 6-4 following the latter's climb through qualifying.