A tremendous performance from Australia's contingent saw six players advance to the second round at the US Open.
Well-known for overachieving at Grand Slam events, Thanasi Kokkinakis produced an almighty boilover to defeat 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Falling to the ground on his backside after match point, the 28-year-old was full of unbridled joy and emotion.
“I had a five-set battle with him a couple of years ago at the Australian Open and I was expecting a war,” Kokkinakis said after the match.
“It was physical out there and I have a tendency to sometimes drag these matches on and have some real long battles, but I just tried to stay focused, stay the course and just tried to play every point.
“It’s my best win at a Grand Slam for sure. A lot of hard work has gone into it, [as well as] just staying positive and competing my nuts off really.”
The upset result means the draw has kindly opened up for Kokkinakis, who will meet Portugal's Nuno Borges next.
Australia's biggest hope, Alex de Minaur, returned to competitive singles action for the first time since suffering a hip injury at Wimbledon as he recorded a 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 triumph over America's Marcos Giron.
Nine aces and 43 winners proved enough for the world No.10 to survive a slight blip and advance where he awaits Finland's Otto Virtanen.
“It means a lot,” de Minaur told Stan Sport. "I’ve done my best to get back on the court and just feel very happy. I feel happy that I’m back on court and being able to compete.”
One Aussie was guaranteed progression before play commenced as Max Purcell and Aleksandar Vukic faced off, with the former coming out on top in straights to win 7-5, 6-4, 6-3. Purcell awaits the winner of Tommy Paul and Lorenzo Sonego.
Perhaps the feel-good story of the day belonged to world No.164 Tristan Schoolkate, bravely clawing his way back from a two-set deficit to claim a terrific come-from-behind 4-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-4 victory against experienced 31-year-old Taro Daniel.
Schoolkate, 25, received a wildcard for the final Grand Slam of 2024, grasping the opportunity with both hands.
"I thought if I kept with it and kept myself in the match, there’s no time limit in tennis," admitted Scholkate after the win. "Obviously, between points there is, but I feel like as long as you’re still playing, you’ve still got a chance.
“I was down for a lot of the match. I was down a break in the third set and down a break in the fourth set. Then when I broke in the first game of the fifth set, that fifth set felt like it went forever. To finally be one step ahead, it was probably three and a half hours after winning the first game.
“Physically, it was pretty draining. Mentally, it’s hard to focus for so long. But I’m pretty proud of how I managed it physically and mentally today and happy to get through.” The Western Australian will need to defeat Jakub Menšík to create a fairytale run toward the third round.
Olympian Jordan Thompson cruised to a comfortable 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 win, while world No.96 Christopher O'Connell found a way to neutralise big-serving Chilean Nicolás Jarry to escape as a 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victor.
Thompson and O'Connell, coached by former Aussie player Marinko Matosevic, will play seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz and Italy's Mattia Bellucci in the second round respectively.
Qualifier Li Tu embraced the occasion on Arthur Ashe Stadium against former US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, with the 28-year-old Aussie holding his own to stun the Spaniard and level the contest at one set apiece, before running out of steam and bowing out 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 - joining Vukic and James Duckworth as the other losers on the men's side.
For the women, it was a tough day at the office as all six Aussie representatives were sent packing.
Daria Saville suffered a heartbreaking three-set defeat against Japan's Ena Shibahara, smashing her racquet after the match in a tense super tiebreak.
Having joined Schoolkate in receiving a wildcard, 18-year-old talent Taylah Preston could only manage two games against veteran and 2011 US Open quarter-finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 6-0.
After qualifying for the main draw, world No.147 Destanee Aiava told The First Serve that she "either wanted to play Rybakina or Sabalenka." She received her wish, facing fourth seed Elena Rybakina on Grandstand. A commendable effort saw the Aussie come up short in a 6-1, 7-6(1) defeat having watched 11 aces fly past her.
Elsewhere, world No.109 and qualifier Arina Rodionova lost her first round match against Xinyu Wang, despite snatching the opening set.
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