Jakub Mensik could barely haul his body off the deck to finish the battle on his last venture to Rod Laver Arena.
Far from leaving bitter memories, the Czech 18-year-old declared a desire for a return to Melbourne Park’s premier court after a final-round 6-3 7-6(2) qualifying victory against former junior No.1 Harold Mayot for his maiden Australian Open main draw berth.
MORE: All the scores from qualifying at AO 2024
“When you are on the Challenger Tour the conditions are very different and when you're coming to Grand Slams it doesn't matter if it's US Open or right now, Australian Open, you have that good feeling that you are on the top and you can play with these guys, so that's a big motivation for me,” Mensik said.
WOMEN'S QUALIFYING: Ferro sets scene for potential Swiatek rematch
“Last year, I qualified in the US Open… I'm just really happy that I made it (to the main draw here). The job is not done. I will do my best to continue on this Aussie journey, to play more great matches and to win more.”
Mensik’s preferred assignment, before all qualifiers had been placed, was against 10-time champion Novak Djokovic.
MORE: Day 1 main draw schedule of play
After the culmination of final-round qualifying matches that hefty task fell on fellow 18-year-old, Croatian Dino Prizmic.
Prizmic – who first tried his hand at the sport at Tenis Klub Split, where Goran Ivanisevic and Mario Ancic also learned to play – eased past Tunisian Aziz Dougaz 6-3 6-4 on Friday.
It ensured his Grand Slam debut a mere seven months after he captured the Roland Garros boys’ singles silver salver.
“For me every player is really good, but Djokovic has his mental strength. But… every player is good,” Prizmic said. “The stadium will be full. I just want to play my best tennis and I don't have anything to lose.
“I'm very happy because it's my first Grand Slam. It is a big moment for me, and I just want to stay focused and play the next match. I will act like it is a normal match, not very stressed. I just want to play, be relaxed and to give the best for me.”
MORE: AO 2024 men's qualifying singles draw
Mensik was instead drawn to meet former world No.10 Denis Shapovalov. His Rod Laver Arena return would have to wait for now.
It marked a second successful qualifying campaign from as many majors after Mensik won through to last year’s field of 128 before his run to the third round at Flushing Meadows.
Severe full-body cramping in the AO 2022 boys’ singles final proved so debilitating for the promising junior that he needed to be wheeled from the court after he succumbed to Bruno Kuzuhara in a three-hour, 43-minute tussle.
On Friday, AO 2020 junior champion Mayot required treatment for an ankle injury during the second-set tiebreak but even if the match had the match gone the distance against the Frenchman, Mensik said his body was better equipped this time round for another lengthy Melbourne Park battle.
“Two years ago (on Rod Laver Arena) it was a special moment for me, an unbelievable experience,” he said. “Even though I lost, I felt how it is to have a full-body cramp. We tried after that to do some little things better.
“This time it's not going to happen. I played three matches, two of them were tougher than the first one but yeah, I feel very good on the court, very comfortable. That's all that you need.”
MORE: Aussies Jasika, Sweeny, Hunter complete dream qualifying runs
In other results, two rising Italians – 21-year-old second seed Flavio Cobolli and 22-year-old Giulio Zeppieri – booked their Australian Open main draw debuts.
Hungarian former junior No.1 Mate Valkusz, Dutchman Jesper de Jong, Czech Vit Kopriva, Frenchman Terence Atmane and Australian Dane Sweeny qualified for their Grand Slam debuts.
Former world No.7 David Goffin and former world No.31 Lloyd Harris also made triumphant returns to the Australian Open main draw.