Four local stars on the scrap-heap after Day One at the Australian Open, as Daria Saville suffers more Grand Slam heartache

Veteran Daria Saville has suffered further Grand Slam heartbreak as she took part in a local exodus on day one of the Australian Open.

Saville and Queenslander Adam Walton were still in action after midnight on a rain-marred day at Melbourne Park but both fell short, while Omar Jasika and Li Tu were previous home injuries.

Saville fell to Russian world number 73 Anna Blinkova, going down 1-6 6-4 7-5, while Walton was on the wrong end of a marathon match against Frenchman Quentin Halys, 4-6 4-6 6-4 7-6 lost (7-4) 7-5.

Saville fought her way back from serious knee and Achilles tendon injuries and was considering retirement after her first round exit at the US Open last year and was desperate for a morale-boosting victory after moving to 112th in the world had dropped.

She showed she still has plenty to offer in a spirited performance at Margaret Court Arena, but let Blinkova off the hook and could only convert three of 15 break point chances.

After storming through the first set, the former Australian No. 1 had four break points at 3-3 in the second but could not shake off her rival.

Omar Jasika (pictured) as sent off by Frenchman Hugo Gaston after a four-set thriller after their match was postponed by more than six hours due to sudden storms that hit Melbourne

In the third set she had eight more and could only take one.

It allowed her to go up 3-1, but she then dropped Blinkova to 3-3 after shooting two double faults.

Trailing 5-6, Saville then lost her serve for the Russian to end the match.

World number 90 Walton stormed into a two-set lead over 74th-ranked Halys, but the Frenchman battled his way into the match, which lasted three hours and 38 minutes.

Halys sent 31 aces and 88 winners, which were key to victory.

Vying for his first win at major local wildcard Li Tu, Czech 24th seed Jiri Lehecka pushed in their first round match.

The Adelaide-born 28-year-old was at his best on the counter, winning the second set and forcing a tiebreak in the fourth set, but was ultimately outclassed in the big moments, falling 6-1 3-6 6-3 7 -6 (7-1).

Lehecka’s opponent in the second round is Frenchman Hugo Gaston, who defeated former prodigy Omar Jasika 6-2 3-6 6-2 6-2.

Competing for his first win against major local wildcard Li Tu (pictured), Czech 24th seed Jiri Lehecka pushed in their first round match

Walton was on the wrong end of a marathon match against Frenchman Quentin Halys, losing 4-6 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 7-5

Heavy rain and thunderstorms forced the pair to leave Court 3 for more than six hours, as Jasika threatened to turn the tide early in the second set.

When play started after 6pm, the 27-year-old wildcard immediately broke world number 81, thrilling the non-tennis home crowd before claiming the second set.

But as the match progressed, Gaston acclimatized to Jasika’s unconventional play, smashing 55 winners to cruise into the second round.

Jasika became the first player in 28 years to win the US Open boys’ singles and doubles titles in 2014, and two years later she reached the second round of the Australian Open.

But his quest for success on the senior tour was derailed at the end of 2018 when he was banned for two years after testing positive for cocaine.

He spent time in a factory and a bar, watching the careers of his peers evolve, before returning to the Grand Slam stage in Melbourne last year.

Jasika said he preferred to “stay within his limits” when asked about the severity of the penalties for doping violations imposed on superstars Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner.

But the Victorian said he was extremely grateful to tournament organizers for his wildcard, and planned to use it to reinvest in his tennis.

“Hopefully this year I can reach a peak in my career and try to break into the top 100,” he said.

“That’s definitely the goal for me.”