Daria Kasatkina is the first Australian player to progress to the second round at Wimbledon, following a hard-fought victory over Great Britain’s Mimi Xu.
The world No.65 toiled for one hour and 42 minutes against the local wildcard before emerging with a 6-2 3-6 6-2 win.
It provided a timely confidence boost for the 29-year-old, who was winless at lead-in grasscourt tournaments in Nottingham and Eastbourne.
Ahead of The Championships, Kasatkina admitted her expectations in a ninth main-draw campaign were low.
“The whole grasscourt season wasn’t as successful as I would like it to be,” the 29-year-old said.
But having also added that “one match can change the way you’re playing” Kasatkina could also be buoyed by her turnaround in the Court 16 encounter, when Xu was understandably supported by a large British crowd.
While admitting that it wasn’t her best tennis against the 18-year-old Xu, Kasatkina could recognise the broader positives.
“Well, cannot say that I was super happy with my level today, but the attitude was there and that was the most important thing,” she said.
“[I’m] really happy with my efforts, especially in the third set, because in the second she was playing way better than in the first. I was really happy how I was able to manage that.”
Kasatkina, who was a quarterfinalist at the All England Club in 2018, now hopes to continue her 2026 charge against Indonesia’s Janice Tjen.
At world No.65, Kasatkina enters a first match with world No.42 Tjen with few expectations.
"That's pretty much my approach for this tournament,” she related. "The lower the expectations it's actually better for you."
> READ: Grasscourt form fuels Aussie hopes at Wimbledon
Aleksandar Vukic, meanwhile, faced both a difficult opponent and some challenging circumstances as he exited in straight sets to American Jenson Brooksby.
After saving three set points late in the tight first set, the Australian earned two of his own when he took a 6-4 lead in the tiebreak. But world No.81 Brooksby saved one with a dropshot and gained control after a Vukic error.
Treated for a knee injury during the second set, the 30-year-old couldn’t gain any openings as Brooksby ran away with a 7-6(6) 6-1 6-1 victory.
Adam Walton was unable to capitalise on an impressive start against Dino Prizmic, with the Croatian emerging a 4-6 7-6(3) 6-4 6-2 winner of their first-round match.
Rinky HIjikata, meanwhile, recovered from a first-set deficit against Dutchman Jesper de Jong, with the Australian leading 6-7(4) 6-4 5-3 when play was suspended due to bad light.
> READ: "It's pretty iconic and special" - Aussies at Wimbledon
Aussies in action: Wimbledon
RESULTS - Day 1
Women’s singles, first round
Daria Kasatkina (AUS) d [WC] Mimi Xu (GBR) 6-2 3-6 6-2
Men’s singles, first round
Jenson Brooksby (USA) d Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 7-6(6) 6-1 6-
Dino Prizmic (CRO) d Adam Walton (AUS) 4-6 7-6(3) 6-4 6-2
Rinky Hijikata (AUS) leads Jesper de Jong (NED) 6-7(4) 6-4 5-3
COMING UP - Day 2
Women’s singles, first round
Maya Joint (AUS) v [WC] Serena Williams (USA)
Talia Gibson (AUS) v [21] Marie Bouzkova (CZE)
Kimberly Birrell (AUS) v [Q] Alina Korneeva
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) v [Q] Mariam Bolkvadze (GEO)
Men’s singles, first round
[5] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Roman Andres Burruchaga (ARG)
James Duckworth (AUS) v Tallon Griekspoor (NED)
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v [13] Jiri Lehecka (CZE)
[Q] Dane Sweeny (AUS) v [WC] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
COMING UP - Day 3
Women’s singles, second round
Daria Kasatkina (AUS) v Janice Tjen (IDN)