Australian wildcard Zoe Hives scored the biggest win of her young career today.
The 19-year-old upset Spanish veteran and seventh seed Lourdes Dominguez Lino in their first round qualifying match.
“I’m so excited, I can’t believe it,” the world No.504 gushed as she walked off court.
“She got a lot of balls back, she was a tough opponent. I got a bit lucky on a few shots I think, but I’m just happy to get across the line.”
Hives battled out a 7-6(2) 7-6(6) victory in just under two hours.
Playing in just her second WTA Tour-level match, Hives admitted nerves got the better of her when she served for the match at 5-4 in the second set.
When Dominguez Lino edged ahead in the second set tiebreak, Hives stepped up her aggressive game.
“I just kept thinking ‘relax, relax’ because I got a bit tight at 5-4,” she said.
Hives now faces Spain’s Laura Pous-Tio, a straight set winner against Poland’s Katarzyna Piter, in the second round.
Dutchwoman Richel Hogenkamp was the first player into the second round, needing an hour to sweep aside Australian wildcard Naiktha Bains 6-3 6-1 in the opening match on centre court.
The first set was tight, as both players struggled to find their rhythm in windy conditions. Hogenkamp got the decisive break in the eighth game then served out the set. From there the world No.132 was in control, racing through the second set as Bains’ frustrations grew. The world No.609 struggled on serve, throwing in 12 double faults.
“It was tough to play with the wind, I think we were both struggling a bit in the beginning with our serves,” Hogenkamp said. “I was able to start playing steadier and it was not too bad.”
World No.94 and fifth seed Urszula Radwanska needed just 49 minutes to defeat Australian wildcard Destanee Aiava.
“It was my first match this year. It was a bit windy but I’m happy with the way I played,” Radwanska said.
Radwanska, who missed the opening week of the season with a knee injury, said she was feeling fit. She praised her 15-year-old opponent, who was making her WTA Tour level debut.
“She is going to be a good player. You can see she is still young, but she is a fighter and has good weapons, so she can be very good,” she said.
Croatian Jana Fett caused one of the biggest upsets of the day, eliminating 2014 Hobart International finalist and sixth seed Klara Koukalova.
“I knew she was good, but I didn’t know she had made the final here,” the 19-year-old world No.152 revealed after the match.
Fett dominated her more experienced opponent from the outset, taking the opening set 6-1. Koukalova fought back from a break down early in the second set to take it 6-4 and force a deciding set. But Fett lifted her first serve percentage in the final set and stepped up her aggressive play to take it 6-1.
“I started very good then I got a bit lost and she started playing better,” Fett reflected. “But I did it and I’m just happy to get through.”
Top seed Tatjana Maria of Germany was also knocked out of the tournament, beaten by Japanese rising star Naomi Osaka in a see-sawing three-set battle. The 18-year-old Osaka won 7-5 6-7(6) 6-3 in just over two hours.
Fourth seed Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine and second seed Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia were also eliminated.
Japan’s Kurumi Nara, a semifinalist here in 2015, overcome a slow start to beat Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-6(4) 6-1. The Spaniard served for the first set, but the third-seeded Nara lifted to take control of the match.