A HUGE day of action around the ground saw a flurry of players return to the court ahead of the Australian Open, with both the Great Ocean Road Open and Murray River Open starting. With a number of players across both tournaments returning to the court with protected rankings from injury, there were plenty of intriguing results at play.

At the Great Ocean Road Open, just one seed in Aljaz Bedene proceeded through to the second round after both Laslo Djere and Feliciano Lopez fell to lower ranked opposition. Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak, who was enabled entry via his protected ranking, disposed of Djere in straight sets 6-3 6-4, while South African Kevin Anderson was huge in his encounter with Lopez, hitting a whopping 17 aces on his way to 6-4 7-5 victory. Bedene was well and truly tested by his opposition however, with Japan’s Yasutaka Uchiyama testing the Slovenian throughout the 7-6 7-6 contest in just under two hours, coming back from a 1-4 deficit in the first set to reign supreme.

All three Australians made it through to the second round with wildcard Max Purcell and Aleksander Vukic disposing of their opposition in straight sets, while Chris O’Connell had a tougher time against Dominik Koepfer, with the German taking out the first set 7-5 before the Aussie lifted, flying out of the gates after winning the second set to win 5-7 6-4 6-1.

Italians Salvatore Caruso and Stefano Travaglia both came away with victory on day one, with the former downing compatriot Andreas Seppi in a tight 7-5 7-6 outing, while the latter overcame a slow start to run out 2-6 7-5 7-6 victor against Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena. The final match saw Soonwoo Kwon outlast a tough Andrej Martin, 6-3 6-7 7-6.

GREAT OCEAN ROAD OPEN ROUND OF 64 RESULTS:

Salvatore Caruso (ITA) defeated Andreas Seppi (ITA) 7-5 7-6
Kamil Majchrzak (POL) defeated [12] Laslo Djere (SRB) 6-3 6-4
[13] Aljaz Bedene (SLO) defeated Yasutaka Uchiyama (JAP) 7-6 7-6
Kevin Anderson (RSA) defeated [16] Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-4 7-5
Soonwoo Kwon (KOR) defeated Andrej Martin (SVK) 6-3 6-7 7-6
Christopher O’Connell (AUS) defeated Dominik Koepfer (GER) 5-7 6-4 6-1
[WC] Max Purcell (AUS) defeated Norberrt Gombos (SVK) 6-4 6-4
Stefano Travaglia (ITA) defeated Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) 2-6 7-5 7-6
Aleksander Vukic (AUS) defeated Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) 6-4 7-5

At the Murray River Open, Australia was not so lucky with four of its seven competitors facing off, and only one other reigning supreme in a difficult draw. Alex Bolt and Harry Bourchier were the victors out of the all-Aussie battles, disposing of returnee Thanasi Kokkinakis – entered via his protected ranking – and Marc Polmans, respectively. Wildcard Jason Kuber joined Bolt and Bourchier on the winners list after an excellent outing against Italian ninth seed and world number 34 Lorenzo Sonego, with the Australian playing well above his ranking of 265 to take out the 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory. Meanwhile, wildcards Blake Mott and Li Tu were also unsuccessful, going down to Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Pedro Sousa, respectively.

Sonego was not the only seed to fall, joined on the sidelines by Croatian Marin Cilic, who was defeated by Jeremy Chardy in a tight battle – with the Frenchman saving five match points to get the win – and Richard Gasquet, who was downed by American Mackenzie McDonald in just over 90 minutes. On the flip side, the likes of Adrian Mannarino, Tommy Paul and Marton Fucsovics all defeated their respective unseeded opposition.

In the remaining matches, Ricardas Berankis, Federico Coria, Egor Gerasimov and Corentin Moutet all reigned supreme, and will proceed into the Round of 32.

MURRAY RIVER OPEN ROUND OF 64 RESULTS:

Jeremy Chardy (FRA) defeated [11] Marin Cilic (CRO) 2-6 6-3 7-6
[WC] Jason Kuber (AUS) defeated [9] Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 3-6 6-3 6-4
[10] Adrian Mannarino (FRA) defeated Mikael Ymer (SWE) 7-5 6-2
[12] Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) defeated [WC] Blake Mott (AUS) 6-2 6-4
Mackenzie McDonald (USA) defeated [14] Richard Gasquet (FRA) 7-6 7-5
[15] Tommy Paul (USA) defeated Cameron Norrie (GBR) 4-6 7-6 6-3
[16] Marton Fucsovics (HUN) defeated Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 7-6 6-3
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) defeated Sumit Nagal (IND) 6-2 6-2
Alex Bolt (AUS) defeated Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 2-6 6-4 6-3
Harry Bourchier (AUS) defeated Marc Polmans (AUS) 6-4 6-4
Federico Coria (ARG) defeated Radu Albot (MDA) 7-6 6-4
Egor Gerasimov (BLR) defeated Lloyd Harris (RSA) 6-3 7-5
Corentin Moutet (FRA) defeated Frances Tiafoe (USA) 3-6 6-4 6-4
Pedro Sousa (POR) defeated Li Tu (AUS) 6-4 7-6