Taylor Fritz, Shelby Rogers books their place in the second round of the Australian Open

In-form American Taylor Fritz overcame a strong challenge from Nikolaz Basilashvili to advance safely to the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Fritz escaped scorching temperatures that forced officials to suspend outdoor court play for nearly three hours Tuesday.

But Basilashvili applied his own pressure before eighth-seeded Fritz advanced with a 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 victory under a closed roof at John Cain Arena.

Taylor Fritz, the top seed from the United States at the Australian Open, was delighted to seal a victory.

Fritz overcame the heat and a great fight from Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili to win the match

Fritz has now added five straight wins this summer, including a loss to former world number 2 Alexander Zverev while helping steer Team USA to United Cup glory in Sydney.

Quickly emerging as an open title threat, Fritz faces either Australian wild card Alexei Popyrin or Taiwanese Chun-Hsin Tseng next Thursday.

On the women’s side of the draw, it was a successful start to the second day for both Shelby Rogers and wildcard Taylor Townsend.

Shelby Rogers was also in fine form, beating Arianne Hartono 6-4, 6-3 in her first-round tie.

Wildcard Taylor Townsend defeated Diane Parry, barely breaking a sweat in their 6-1, 6-1 victory

Both players outlasted their first-round opponents to book a spot in the second round, with Rogers beating qualifier Arianne Hartono 6-4, 6-3, and Townsend beating another wild card in Diane Parry, 6-1. , 6-1.

In the next round, it may not be so simple for Rogers, who faces No.5 seed Aryna Sabalenka, while Townsend has No.19 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.

There are already an incredible eight American women in the second round in Melbourne, with Madison Keys, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula among them.