Atlanta, USA, 19 July 2012 | Tennis Australia

Matthew Ebden has got his campaign in Atlanta off to a flying start, defeating Ukrainian Sergei Bubka to move through to the second round at the ATP 250 event.

The Australian came from a set behind to record a 5-7 6-1 6-1 victory in just over 90 minutes.

Bubka, a qualifier into the event and the boyfriend of women’s world No.1 Victoria Azarenka, had no answer to the quality of Ebden’s serving which reaped eight aces.

The win allowed Ebden, currently ranked No.82, to break a three match losing streak. He had lost first round matches on grass at Eastbourne, Wimbledon and Newport.

But now on American hardcourt, the Western Australian looked far more assured, his dominant second and third set performances setting up a second round match against former world No.4 James Blake.

Across on the United States west coast, Ebden’s compatriot Jarmila Gajdosova was unable to win her opening match at the WTA Carlsbad event, gong down to Christina McHale.

The Aussie fought hard yet couldn’t stop the No.5 seed from gritting out a 7-6(5) 7-5 win in just under two hours.

While Gajdosova’s booming serve brought her seven aces, McHale’s deceptively strong delivery earned her nine, and she was able to limit her double faults to five.

McHale will face Misaki Doi of Japan in the second round.