- The British No 1 survived some double fault jitters in a 7-5, 7-6 victory
- Boulter could meet Emma Raducanu in an all-British clash in the third round
- Australian Open LIVE: Raducanu takes on Shelby Rodgers in Melbourne
Katie Boulter stayed on course for a potential third-round meeting with Emma Raducanu after making it through her opener at the Australian Open.
The British No 1 overcame some double-fault jitters to put away China’s world No 73 Yue Yuan 7-5 7-6, and could face top Chinese player Qinwen Zheng.
She is in a bracket very close to Raducanu, whose first-round match against American Shelby Rogers was delayed until the evening, local time, because of an overrun in matches on her court.
Boulter double faulted on her initial match point as she served to try and close out the match at 5-4 in the second set. In searing temperatures that went into the low 30s she kept her composure impressively and ran away with the tiebreak 7-1 against a useful opponent.
The British star joins boyfriend Alex de Minaur in the second round in Melbourne.
Katie Boulter booked her place in the second round with victory over China’s Yue Yuan
Boulter proved too strong for the world No 73 as she remained on course for a third-round meeting with Emma Raducanu
De Minaur progressed after Canadian opponent Milos Raonic withdrew mid-match with injury.
Boulter could meet world No 13 Zheng in round two. The Chinese star plays American Ashlyn Krueger in her tournament opener.
Victory over Yuan was her first at the Australian Open for five years, and she will hope it is the start of a promising run in Melbourne.
She joined fellow Britons Cameron Norrie and Jack Draper in booking a place in the second round on Tuesday.
Draper put in a huge physical effort to win his first ever five set match – and promptly ran off court to be sick in a courtside bin after clinching match point.
The 21-year-old southpaw overcame American Marcos Giron 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 in three hours 20 minutes after battling away in 30 degree temperatures at Melbourne Park.
He is awaiting the winner of Frenchman Gregoiere Barrere and American Tommy Paul.
Boulter has been the subject of a lot of the attention in Melbourne as the girlfriend of Aussie hope Alex de Minaur
Earlier Cam Norrie had consigned any worries about his wrist to history as he comfortably came past Peru’s Juan Pablo Virallas 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to make the second round.
The No 19 seed said later that he was grateful for a Tuesday start to allow himself to prepare properly after withdrawing last week from Auckland with a sore left wrist.
He will now face Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri, who had upset Serbian Dusan Lajovic. These warm conditions with heavy balls should suit Norrie as he aims for the second week.