Australia has made its best start at Wimbledon in 15 years after Lleyton Hewitt and Nick Kyrgios joined five compatriots in reaching second round.
Veteran Hewitt and rising star Kyrgios won opening-round matches in impressive style on Tuesday but James Duckworth and Matt Ebden both fell to seeded opponents.
After Bernard Tomic, Marinko Matosevic, Luke Saville, Casey Dellacqua and Jarmila Gajdosova all won on Monday, it took to seven the number of Australians making winning starts at the grass court grand slam.
It means the nation will have its largest presence in the second round since 1999, when Hewitt was one of 10 to make it through.
“It’s great to see and really happy to see some of the young boys get through,” Hewitt said after a beating Poland’s Michal Przysiezny.
“(Saville) winning his first tour match at a grand slam, at Wimbledon, is fantastic.
“Bernie did his job yesterday and with Marinko winning his first match at Wimbledon, moving forward he’s a late developer.
“There’s been some good wins.”
Hewitt’s 16th straight Wimbledon campaign, and possibly his last, began with a a hard-fought 6-2 6-7 (16-14) 6-1 6-4 win over 120th-ranked Przysiezny.
The Australian squandered seven set points in a marathon second-set tiebreak but was otherwise in control, winning in just over three hours to set up a meeting with another Pole, 15th seed Jerzy Janowicz.
Kyrgios, the youngest man in the draw at 19, was convinving in his Wimbledon debut, defeating French veteran Stephane Robert 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-1) 6-7 (8-6) 6-2.
The world No.144, who earned a wildcard after winning a Challenger event at Nottingham last week, blasted 29 aces and was aided by 17 double faults from Robert.
“I thought I stayed strong,” Kyrgios said.
“After (losing) the third set it could have got a bit interesting, getting broken at the start of the fourth but I thought I stayed composed.”
Kyrgios will next face French 13th seed Richard Gasquet, who needed five sets to overcome Australian qualifier Duckworth.
Duckworth, 22, battled hard but faded late in a 6-7 (7-3) 6-3 3-6 6-0 6-1 loss to continue his encouraging form after pushing Tomas Berdych to the limit at Queen’s Club earlier this month.
World No.85 Ebden fell 6-2 6-4 6-4 to Canadian eighth seed Milos Raonic.
Australia has fielded its largest singles contingent at the All England Club in 13 years, with women’s 17th seed Samantha Stosur and qualifier Sam Groth the other casualties on day one.
Whether or not he’s in the midst of his Wimbledon swan song, Lleyton Hewitt is savouring every precious moment.
“It doesn’t get any better than playing out here at this tournament,” Hewitt said.
“Physically I’ve come through a few things over the last couple years with injury and surgery, but it’s all worth it out here.
“This is what I still play for.”
DAY TWO: HOW THE AUSTRALIANS FARED
*Prefix denotes seeding
Men’s singles, first round
Lleyton Hewitt bt Michal Przysiezny (POL) 6-2 6-7 (16-14) 6-1 6-4
Nick Kyrgios bt Stephane Robert (FRA) 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-1) 6-7 (8-6) 6-2
James Duckworth lost to 13-Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-7 (7-3) 6-3 3-6 6-0 6-1
Matt Ebden lost to 8-Milos Raonic (CAN) 6-2 6-4 6-4
AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION ON DAY THREE OF WIMBLEDON ON WEDNESDAY (PREFIX DENOTES SEEDING):
Men’s singles, second round
Marinko Matosevic v Jeremy Chardy (FRA) (2030 AEST)
Luke Saville v 11-Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
Bernard Tomic v 6-Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Women’s singles, second round
Casey Dellacqua v 4-Agnieszka Radwanska (2200 AEST)
Jarmila Gajdosova v Michelle Larcher De Brito (POR)
Men’s doubles, first round
14-John Peers/Jamie Murray (GBR) v Daniel Evans (GBR)/James Ward (GBR)
Lleyton Hewitt/Chris Guccione v Marinko Matosevic/Alejandro Falla (COL)
Alex Bolt/Andrew Whittington v Feliciano Lopez (ESP)/Jurgen Melzer (AUT)
Women’s doubles, first round
6-Ashleigh Barty/Casey Dellacqua v Eugenie Bouchard (CAN)/Heather Watson (GBR)
