Aussie men tumble as women shine in Open qualifying

Six players were bundled out in a disappointing day for Aussie men during qualifying for the Australian Open.

A total of 14 local hopes were in action at Melbourne Park on Tuesday after rain wreaked havoc on the first day of qualifying on Monday.

On the women's side of the draw, five of seven Aussie players won.

Kim Birrell continued her hot start to the year, beating Sara Saito a week after impressing at the Brisbane International.

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She is Australia's highest ranked woman after stunning world No.8 Emma Navarro in the second round, and is now one step closer to playing in her home grand slam.

"I was really happy with how I finished," Birrell said on Tuesday, after winning 7-6(4), 6-2.

"I knew she was a really good player. I played her not too long ago and she can play really well, but I think I just knew if I stuck with her when she was having those hot patches, that I would be able to get on top.

"I think I was able to run away with the momentum in this second set, so I was super happy."

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Birrell is joined in the second round of qualifying by countrywomen Arina Rodionova, Priscilla Hon, Maddison Inglis, and Astra Sharma.

Jaimee Foulis and Petra Hule were bundled out.

In the men's side, wildcard Dane Sweeny was the only winner among the local hopes.

Bernard Tomic lost his first round match in 61 minutes and was joined in the loser's stable by teen gun Cruz Hewitt, Pavle Marinkov, Hayden Jones, Jason Kubler, and Marc Polmans.

The first round continues on Wednesday due to the rain earlier in the week.

Alana Subasic, Elena Micic, Blake Ellis, Edward Winter, and Matthew Dellavedova are the Aussie hopes still to play in round one.

Players must win all three qualifying matches to make it into the Australian Open main draw, which begins on Sunday.