Melbourne, Australia, 10 January 2013 | David Packman

The Australian women took to the courts at Melbourne Park today for the opening round of qualifying at Australian Open 2013.

In the end, it was the more seasoned campaigners who led the way with Monique Adamczak, sisters Anastasia and Arina Rodionova, and wildcard Tammi Patterson the major winners on a mixed day for the locals.

29-year-old Adamczak, currently world No. 192, continued her recent good run, after reaching the Australian Open Play-off final, by upsetting the 20th seed from Germany, Dinah Pfizenmaier 6-1 2-6 6-4.

After the match, Adamczak was clearly pleased with win.

“I had to take it right up to her,” she said. “I knew if I could just play my game and stay on top of her, I would do well.

“It’s the first time I’ve been fit for a while so I’m just happy to be out here and playing well,” she added.

Meanwhile, Anastasia Rodionova, the tournament’s 19th seed, fought back from a mid-match slump to take care of big-hitting Italian, Nastassja Burnett, 7-5 0-6 6-4.

Rodionova felt things didn’t come easily for her today. “I had to fight hard for every ball,” she said. “But I was moving well, so I’m happy with the result.”

Her younger sister Arina did things a little more comfortably, dispatching Argentinian Maria Irigoyen 6-1 6-4.

It was Patterson, however, who had the most complete victory of the day, taking apart former top 100 player, Czech Zuzana Ondraskova, 6-3 6-0 in less than an hour.

Local players bowing out of qualifying competition today were Sally Peers, Abbie Myers, Azra Hadzic, Storm Sanders, Victorija Rajicic, Jessica Moore and promising 14-year-old Priscilla Hon, who started brightly against Russian Valeria Solovieva, but faded late to go down 6-7(5) 6-3 6-0.

In men’s second round action, Alex Bolt came very close to upsetting eighth-seeded Florent Serra but in the end the Frenchman proved too steady for the South Australian powerhouse, and he fell 6-4 5-7 8-6.

After his big win yesterday, Jordan Thompson was no match for 21st seed Ryan Sweeting with the American cruising to victory 6-2 6-4.