The 2024 Australian Open tennis tournament began with an enthralling slate of games for four Australians who kicked off their campaign, with Chris O'Connell booking his way into the second round after a five-set marathon.
Australians in action
With results and recaps to come.
KIA Arena, first match
Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) def. Adam Walton (AUS)
Adam Walton's first major has ended in defeat, going down to Italian Matteo Arnaldi 7-6(5), 6-2, 6-4 after two hours and 36 minutes on KIA Arena.
It seemed an upset could potentially be on the cards when the Aussie wildcard was serving for the first set at 6-5, before he was broken by the world No. 41 and beaten in a tiebreak.
From there, Walton couldn't match the power and precision of Arnaldi -- who hit 36 more winners for the match -- over the course of three sets, but should nonetheless take plenty of confidence out of his first Grand Slam appearance.
Arnaldi, 22, was a member of the victorious Italian Davis Cup team in 2023, beating Australia's Alexei Popyrin in the opening match of the final.
John Cain Arena, second match
Dane Sweeny (AUS) def by. Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) [22]
Local qualifier Dane Sweeny has won plenty of admirers by pushing No.22 seed Francisco Cerundolo to five tough sets in a memorable Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open.
Showing plenty of the never-say-die traits of his doppelganger Lleyton Hewitt, the world No.257 traded blows for the best part of three and half hours on Sunday before bowing out 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
Cerundolo dominated the winners' count 57-20 but the 22-year-old Sweeny's counter-punching qualities kept him in the contest throughout.
- AAP
Court 3, third match, not before 3:30pm
Chris O'Connell (AUS) def. Cristian Garin (CHI)
Chris O'Connell is the first Australian through to the second round after he outlasted Cristian Garin in a five-set thriller that lasted more than four hours.
In a game with many momentum swings, O'Connell had to come from a set and a break down to overcome his Chilean opponent 3-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5.
It becomes the third time the 29-year-old has progressed to the second round of an Australian Open, his best result a third-round appearance at the event in 2022.
O'Connell will play the winner of Monday's first-round match between Roberto Bautista-Agut and Ben Shelton.
KIA Arena, fourth match, not before 5:00pm
Daniel Elahi Galan (COL) def. Jason Kubler (AUS)
Jason Kubler was ever so close to joining compatriot Chris O'Connell in the second round of the Australian Open, but fell agonisingly short against Colombia's Daniel Elahi Galan on KIA Arena.
The pair played a five-hour epic, but it was Galan who came out on top 2-6, 6-3, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 much to the dismay of the those in the crowd who lasted the marathon clash.
Kubler, who reached the second round at Melbourne Park last year, joins Adam Walton and Dane Sweeney as Day 1 casualties for the local contingent.