Australian Open: Australia's best provide first-week highlights

Leading from the front was Nick Kyrgios with back-to-back five-set classics against Frenchman Ugo Humbert and number three seed Dominic Thiem.

The Humbert win was almost indescribable, you had to be watching to feel the energy and momentum shift as greatly as it did as a bumper crowd (remember those?) at John Cain Arena pushed the Australian over the line.

ELSEWHERE IN SPORT: TSLW premiers Launceston move into NTFAW competition

Saving two match points in the fourth set - the latter with one of the better shots you'll see - Kyrgios won 5-7 6-4 3-6 7-6 6-4 to set up the Thiem clash, which unfortunately went the other way as the Austrian fought back from two sets to love down.

Before Kyrgios joined Thanasi Kokkinakis on the doubles court, his close mate had some success of his own, winning his first match at the Australian Open since 2015 in emotional scenes.

MORE AUSSIE OPEN: Dimitrov unfazed by Karatsev fairytale run

In the second round, he faced fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, falling in a 6-7 6-4 6-1 6-7 6-4 battle to the Greek star as Kokkinakis aims to get his career back on track.

Alexei Popyrin saved four match points to send number 13 seed David Goffin packing in a massive first-round boilover as Ajla Tomljanovic and Alex Bolt pushed high-quality opponents, the former more than the latter.

Croatian-born Tomljanovic held a 5-2 lead in the third set against world number two Simona Halep but couldn't convert her chances.

Here's hoping Ash Barty can learn from Tomljanovic's mistakes!