Gavrilova caps incredible opening round for Aussies

Daria Gavrilova has continued her Australian Open love affair, scrambling into the second round with a hard-fought win over unheralded Brit Naomi Broady.

On the back of her fourth-round appearance last year, the 22-year-old Australian again proved the darling of Margaret Court Arena with a 3-6 6-4 7-5 victory on Tuesday night.

The 22nd seed next faces world No.36 Croatian Ana Konjuh.

Gavrilova said she was inspired by the efforts of fellow Australians like Jordan Thompson, who fought back from two sets down to move into the men's second round.

Her victory means eight locals are into the second round at Melbourne Park, a feat that has only been achieved once in the past 12 years.

Thompson, Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic, Alex De Minaur, Andrew Whittington, Ash Barty and Jaimee Fourlis are the other Aussies still flying the flag.

In Whittington, local fans found someone worth shouting about.

The world no.194 wasn't daunted in his first major, earning a 6-4 4-6 6-2 6-3 success over Czech Adam Pavlasek.

By sundown, he was joined by Thompson as a second-day success.

Thompson outgunned world No.37 Joao Sousa of Portugal despite giving away the first two sets, triumphing 6-7 (2-7) 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-1.

The pair of unheralded Aussie aces shone brighter than the highest-ranked local in action on Tuesday.

Sam Stosur was slow out of the blocks and couldn't win the points that counted in a 6-3 3-6 6-0 defeat to Brit Heather Watson.

The Queenslander played a flat first set, found her groove in the second and collapsed in the decider.

Gavrilova, Thompson and Whittington were Australia's day two winners. Image: Getty

Stosur's unforced errors (47) tallied almost half of Watson's points (103) in the two hour, 15 minute struggle.

Stosur was joined by qualifiers Alex Bolt and Blake Mott and wildcards Omar Jasika, Lizette Cabrera and Arina Rodionova as day-two losers.

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