#NextGenATP Mensik, Medjedovic make strong starts in AO qualifying

Is Jakub Mensik set for another Grand Slam adventure at the Australian Open?

The #NextGenATP Czech kick-started his bid for a main-draw spot at the opening major of the year by defeating Brandon Nakashima on Wednesday in the first round of qualifying at Melbourne Park. Mensik, who reached the third round as a 17-year-old qualifier at the US Open last year, outhit the former World No. 43 Nakashima by 27 winners to 17 in an 86-minute win.

It is the second time this year that Mensik has defeated the former World No. 43 Nakashima. He defeated the American last week en route to the championship match at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Canberra, and the 18-year-old Czech arrived in Melbourne at a career-high No. 144 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

Mensik’s next opponent as he chases his second main-draw appearance at a Grand Slam will be Federico Gaio. The Italian led Laurent Lokali 4-6, 6-4, 3-2 when the Frenchman was forced to retire from their first-round clash.

Hamad Medjedovic made an emphatic start to his qualifying campaign in Melbourne. The reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion triumphed 6-1, 6-1 against Marco Cecchinato to set a rematch with Abdullah Shelbayh, who beat Titouan Droguet 6-2, 6-4. Medjedovic defeated Shelbayh in December en route to the title at the season-ending event in Jeddah.

Having announced that the Australian Open would be the final event of his professional career, home favourite John Millman is still alive in Melbourne. The former World No. 33 battled to a 6-3, 6-4 triumph against Alessandro Giannessi. Millman, who has twice reached the third round in the main draw at the hard-court major, next plays a fellow former Top 50 player in Alex Molcan, who defeated Gijs Brouwer 6-4, 6-4.

Lloyd Harris, Marc-Andrea Huesler, Maxime Cressy and Hugo Gaston also notched opening victories on Wednesday. The former World No. 31 Harris defeated Daniel Rincon 6-2, 6-2, while Huesler’s big-serving lefty game carried him past Filip Misolic 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Cressy beat Hsu Yu Hsiou and Gaston prevailed 7-5, 6-0 against China’s Buyunchaokete.