Home favourite Ajla Tomljanović was unable to reach her maiden third-round at the Australian Open as she fell to 12th-seed Diana Shnaider in the twilight session on John Cain Arena.
The 31-year-old Australian, who has struggled with knee injuries in recent times, ebbed and flowed throughout the match, ultimately unable to match the firepower and court craft of the 20-year-old Russian and North Carolina State alumni, exiting 6-4 7-5.
After going down an early break, Tomljanović found her range and worked her way into the second set but she was unable to keep her opponent's aggressive return game at bay.
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The second set looked to be over as quickly as it started for Tomljanović, a three-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist, as Shnaider raced away to a 3-0 lead.
Though Tomljanović mounted a brief comeback, an untimely double fault gifted Shnaider her first match point at 5-6, which she sealed with another down-the-line winner.
For the Australian hopeful, who no doubt had high hopes for a career-best Aussie summer despite her recent injuries, there were positives to be gleaned from yet another round of 64 loss.
"I moved probably the best that I’ve moved in a long time," said the former world No.32 post-match. "It just gives me a lot of confidence moving forward."
Tomljanović also revealed her plans for the next couple of months before travelling with team Australia for Billie Jean King Cup qualifier commitments.
"I'm going to Singapore after Aus Open. Then I'm going to have a bit of a training block a couple of weeks, and then Austin, Indian Wells, Miami, and hopefully Charleston before BJK Cup."
Elsewhere, James Duckworth faced Spain’s Roberto Carballés Baena on Court 3 today in front of a packed crowd chanting, "Come on Duckie!" But the Spaniard was simply too solid, taking the match in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5.
Carballés Baena pressured Duckworth with long rallies forcing errors from the Aussie’s racquet, with the Spaniard holding to love to lead 5-3. Duckworth serves well to hold and force Carballés Baena to serve for the set. The Spaniard managed to do that smoothly by serving brilliantly, taking the set 6-4.
In game seven of the second set, Carballés Baena slammed two winners to break again and blitz to a 5-2 lead. The Spaniard again served brilliantly, hitting his second ace of the game to get within one set of an unlikely third-round berth.
Late in the third, the Spaniard then held to love as he pummelled another ace to equalise the set at 5-5. Carballés Baena set up a third break game on Duckworth's service game with an incredible backhand down-the-line passing shot.
Another unforced error by the Aussie handed the Spaniard the first break of the set. Carballés Baena led 6-5 and prepared to serve out the match, but once again the rain began pouring down on Court 3 as the players sat under the umbrellas at their respective chairs.
After the rain continued, the players vacated the court for the second time as play was suspended again, forcing a rain delay and a not-before-7pm recommencement.
Once finally back on court, the Spaniard finished things off with a comfortable service hold to take the final set and book his spot in the third-round.
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