Nine years have passed since a teenage Thanasi Kokkinakis scored a stunning five-set victory at Australian Open 2015.
His emotional reaction after upsetting world No.13 Ernests Gulbis – which memorably included celebrating with passionate Aussie fans at Court 3 – remains one of the 27-year-old’s favourite memories.
Since then, there’s been heartbreak aplenty both on and off the court at the Melbourne Park. From rehabbing career-threatening injuries to crushing losses and difficult draws that have tested his resolve.
However, the world No.80’s perseverance was finally rewarded in the opening round at Australian Open 2024.
Kokkinakis’ resilience was on show at John Cain Arena, where he staged an incredible comeback to record a 7-6(1) 2-6 6-7(4) 6-1 7-6[10-8] victory against world No.37 Sebastian Ofner.
Earlier on Tuesday, Max Purcell recorded his first main-draw singles win at the Australian Open, making his long-awaited breakthrough with a four-set victory over Hungarian qualifier Mate Valkusz.
Purcell and Kokkinakis join countrymen Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin, Chris O’Connell and Jordan Thompson in the second round at Melbourne Park, while Storm Hunter has reached the same stage of the women’s singles.
DAY 4 SCHEDULE: Big day for the Aussies at AO 2024
Hunter's Australian Billie Jean King Cup teammate Ajla Tomljanovic is also though to round two, staging a remarkable comeback to beat Petra Martic in the last match to finish on Day 3 at Melbourne Park.
Kokkinakis withstood a barrage of 77 winners from Ofner, while tallying 43 of his own, to triumph in four hours and 18 minutes.
It snaps a three-match losing streak in Australian Open five-set battles, stretching back to his major breakthrough in 2015.
It is also Kokkinakis’ first top-50 singles win at the tournament since then, too.
“I know it’s a first round, but this one means a lot,” Kokkinakis said.
DRAW: Australian Open 2024 men's singles
Kokkinakis’ reward is a second-round showdown with world No.13 Grigor Dimitrov, the in-form Bulgarian on a six-match winning streak after scooping the Brisbane International title.
“Grigor is a hell of a player. He’s been doing this for a while and he’s in some great form right now,” Kokkinakis acknowledged.
“But I back myself. I’ve beaten higher-ranked players before, I’ve lost to lower-ranked players. It’s a number, it’s about coming out on the day and playing my best tennis, so hopefully I can do that.”
Purcell prevails
For Purcell, it might have taken seven match points, but he nonetheless advanced to round two at Melbourne Park for the first time.
After a shaky start, the world No.45 found his rhythm to defeat Valkusz 3-6 7-6(2) 6-4 7-5.
Purcell kicked into gear in the fourth set, as he raced to a double-break lead. However, his inability to close out the match saw the fourth set back on serve.
Broken in his next two service games, the Australian relinquished six match points in a gruelling 10th game.
Finding his feet again, the 25-year-old broke once again, before successfully serving out the match.
“I feel like if I stay calm enough after getting broken, I feel like I always get rewarded with another break back,” Purcell said. “Obviously it was disappointing to not hold there and then be two games away from winning, but it is what it is.
“Just be calm and you’ll get rewarded.”
His win sets up a second-round showdown against Casper Ruud, who he defeated at the Cincinnati Masters last year.
Getting in done in difficult conditions in their previous outing, Purcell believes a home-court advantage can see him replicate that feat.
“I played Casper in Cincinnati in relatively lively conditions. Balls are a little lighter there and more bouncy, but it’s hot here,” Purcell said of their second-round match-up.
“I’ll have the crowd on my side and I’m more than happy to give him another crack.”
Tomljanovic's steely comeback
Meanwhile, Tomljanovic recorded one of the most meaningful Grand Slam wins of her career.
A year after being left heartbroken when a knee injury forced her out of her home Grand Slam, the 30-year-old made a triumphant and emotional return at AO 2024.
Trailing 1-4 in the deciding set, Tomljanovic came charging back to beat Martic 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4 after two hours and 53 minutes at John Cain Arena.
As the match edged closer to midnight, Tomljanovic was buoyed on by a passionate crowd.
The great escape!
Down two breaks in the third, @AjlaTom battles back to win the final five games of the match, securing a 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4 victory over Petra Martic - her first at the #AusOpen since 2021!#AO2024 pic.twitter.com/a637dFk5B4— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2024
“I really was out at one point. I felt like she was kind of toying with me and I couldn’t read her serve,” Tomljanovic told the crowd in her post-match interview.
“But 4-1 down, double break, you guys never gave up, even more than me. So I was like if you’re here, I should give it my best.”
She next faces Jelena Ostapenko after the world No.10 eliminated Aussie wildcard Kimberly Birrell in the opening round.