Second-seeded Ons Jabeur overcame a second-set swing to beat Tamara Zidansek and advance to the second round of the Australian Open.
Tunisian Jabeur looked frustrated in the 7-6 (10-8) 4-6 6-1 victory over the Slovenian.
Jabeur, 28, is a contender for her first Grand Slam title after being runners-up at Wimbledon and the US Open last year.
There were also victories for Caroline Garcia, Aryna Sabalenka and Karolina Pliskova the second day of play.
Jabeur never made it past the quarter-finals in Melbourne but is among the favorites for the title after his strong Grand Slam performance last year.
“It was a very difficult game. I wasn’t playing very well and she was putting pressure on me,” Jabeur said.
“I was quite frustrated. I just told myself to be world number two and win this match.”
Garcia, the French fourth seed, advanced to the second round with a 6-3 6-0 win over Canadian qualifier Katherine Sebov. She will face another Canadian in 2021, finalist of the US Open Leylah Fernandez after her 7-5 6-2 victory over Alize Cornet.
Fifth-seeded Sabalenka of Belarus recorded a 6-1 6-4 victory over Tereza Martincova to tie the game with the American Shelby Rogerswhile former world number one Pliskova beat China’s Wang Xiyu 6-1 6-3.
Belgian Elise Mertens fought back after a set down to beat 2020 finalist Garbine Muguruza 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 and 12th seed Belinda Bencic picked up a 6-1 6-2 win over Viktoriya Tomova of Bulgaria.
