Eighth seed Holger Rune beat the heat on a sweltering summer day at the Australian Open, posting a very physical 6-2,4-6, 7-6 (4) 6-4 win over Yoshihito Nishioka on Tuesday to reach the second round.
The 20-year-old Dane said he was battling conditions as much as his Japanese opponent.
“It was very hot, I had to get used to it, especially in the beginning.
“I was very calm in the first set, managed to find some good tennis. He raised his level a little bit, made it a bit harder.
“At the end it became a physical battle, and I was feeling better and better throughout the match. I’m just very happy to get through.
Victory avenged a Rune loss in the series a year ago in Adelaide.
Norway’s 11th seed Casper Ruud, who lost here a year ago in the second round while seeded second, earned a 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas in just over two hours.
“Obviously it was a straight-set match, which is a perfect way to start a Grand Slam,” the Norwegian said.
“I have time to rest and get ready for the second round; it was all business today.
‘I played very well from the beginning to the end. I’m so very happy with the level that I showed.”
Brisbane champion Grigor Dimitrov, the 13th seed, emerged after three and a half hours with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-2 fightback win over Marton Fucsovics.
Cam Norrie earned a win for Britain less than 24 hours after Andy Murray made what could be a sad career goodbye to Australia, with the South African-born 19th seed beating Peru’s Juan Pablo Varillas 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.
“I really did the basics well today,” the winner said. “I especially managed my service games well – that was the difference in the match.
“It was not easy to play at all. It was really quick conditions but I’m happy to be through.”
He added: “The first round is always tough. I was a bit nervous obviously, coming into the first slam of the year.”
Jiri Lehecka, winner of his first career title at the weekend in Adelaide, got off to a winning start in Melbourne with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 defeat of Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles.
The 32nd-seeded Czech ended with 33 winners, twice as many as his defeated opponent.
Max Purcell got a home win for fans as he defeated Hungarian qualifier Mate Valkusz 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4, 7-5. Australian James McCabe, a wild card, was eliminated by American Alex Michelsen 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
