First French son qualifies for Australian Open second round

Arthur Fils answers the call. On this first day of the Australian Open, the number 20 seed is the first French player to qualify for the second round.

However, it was not all plain sailing for the 20-year-old as he entered the tournament.

Trailing by a set to nil to Otto Virtanen, ranked 92nd in the world, Fils saw his Finnish opponent serve out the second set at 5-4, but Fils' debreak proved to be the turning point of the match.

After winning the tiebreak to level the match at one set apiece, the winner of last year's Hamburg and Tokyo events finally got the better of Virtanen.

Virtanen was on alternating current on his serve, making more double faults than aces in the match (12 double faults to 11 aces).

On a rainy first day in Melbourne, Fils managed to get through the drops (3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 in 2h48). He awaits news of his opponent in the second round, who will be either Quentin Halys or local player Adam Walton.

Last year, Fils fell to Tallon Griekspoor in his second match and is hoping to beat his best performance in Melbourne.