By Scott Spits
Marinko Matosevic and Luke Saville exited at the first stage of Australian Open qualifying but the host nation had better fortunes with some of its lesser lights.
Matthew Ebden, John-Patrick Smith, Alex Bolt and Blake Mott all advanced to the second round in warm conditions at Melbourne Park while the No.1 qualifying seed, veteran Czech Radek Stepanek, took three sets to get past his opponent.
Marinko Matosevic will not take part in the Australian Open.Credit: Getty Images
Matosevic, ranked 223 in the world but boasting a career high of No.39 four years ago, went down to Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4, 6-2 in 82 minutes. A second round loser to Andy Murray at Melbourne Park two years ago, Matosevic featured on show court three in front of a smattering of fans, but his time back in Melbourne was limited to a brief cameo.
Likewise, Saville lost in straight set to Denis Kudla, pushing the American but eventually succumbing 6-4, 7-5 in one hour and 31 minutes.
Winners' list: John-Patrick Smith.Credit: Getty Images
Regardless, Saville was satisfied with how he played against an opponent he had never confronted before.
"There were a few errors. I could have been a bit more polished definitely. I could have served better," the 23-year-old said.
"I missed a few first volleys and stuff like that but I went about it the right way. I played pretty well and lost to a better opponent on the day.
"I thought I tried to put him under pressure at big moments and he came up good.
"I got the break back when he served for the match at 5-4 in the second, and then I played a terrible service game.
"There's a few things I'm definitely disappointed in, but with my overall performance I'm reasonably happy."
Saville's immediate plans are not clear but a mixed doubles match-up with Russian-born Australian girlfriend Daria Gavrilova is a possibility.
"I'm hoping to play some doubles, but that's up to the selectors," he said.
"Hopefully some mixed doubles with Daria – my girlfriend – but we'll just have to see.
We might get away for a couple of days now. We'll take it day by day at the moment."
Saville is not making any drastic goals for 2017 and remains confident he'll win more often than not against similar opponents to Kudla
"Not really ranking goals, or points goals," he said of his ambitions for this year.
"More of these matches I'm going to come out on top. Today it didn't.
"But I walk off the courts with no regrets."
Ebden, 29, enjoyed a clinical 6-1, 6-2 victory over Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan. He only needed 44 minutes on court and will next meet Russian Evgeny Donskoy.
Smith, ranked 228 in the world but with an appearance in the main draw at Melbourne Park in 2013 under his belt, defeated Argentine Agustin Velotti 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.
Bolt took more than two hours to defeat Romanian Marius Copil, seeded 15th in qualifying, losing the first set in a tie-breaker before triumphing 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 6-4.
In contrast, Mott needed just 48 minutes on court to dispose of Russian Alexander Kudryavtsev 6-1, 6-2.
Stepanek, 38, is a super-veteran on the circuit and with a top seeding in qualifying, an appearance in the Australian Open main draw remains a possibility.
The Czech lost in the second round to Stan Wawrinka at Melbourne Park last year. His one hiccup in his three-set victory over American Sekou Bangoura was in the second-set tie-break.
Stepanek featured on court seven for two hours and 20 minutes before prevailing 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 6-2. His next opponent will be Blaz Kavcic of Slovenia, who advanced after his opponent, Matteo Donati of Italy, retired in the second set.
Other players to enjoy opening qualifying wins included Slovakian Lukas Lacko and Austrian Jurgen Melzer.