UDPATE 6.30pm: Australian qualifier John Millman has ridden a wave of hometown support to secure a 6-4, 6-1 first-round victory over Japan’s Tatsuma Ito for a second-round clash with top seed Andy Murray.
In front of a vocal Showcourt 1 crowd, the Brisbane-based Millman fought back from a break down to take the first set 6-4, before running away with the match in the second.
It was a case of fourth-time lucky for the 23-year-old, who was unable to get past the 79th-ranked Ito in three previous meetings in 2012.
He now faces the daunting prospect of taking on top seed and defending Brisbane International champion Andy Murray in the second round.
It wasn’t as good news for fellow Aussie Matthew Ebden, who went down 6-2, 6-2 to Belgian David Goffin in under an hour.
Earlier, eigth seed Martin Klizan crashed out in the opening round in bizarre fashion, after being penalised a game for time wasting on his way to a 6-1, 6-2 loss at the hands of Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin.
Behind 4-0 in the opening set, a visably sluggish Kilzan took his seat, seemingly refusing to continue the match.
The world No.30 received a code violation for time wasting and was docked a point before being penalised a game to trail 5-0.
The big-serving Istomin claimed the set 6-1 before breaking twice more in the second to set up a second-round clash with either Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt or Russian Igor Kunitsyn.
In the one other completed Round 1 men’s singles match, Columbia’s Alejandro Falla defeated Canadian qualifyer Jesse Levine 6-1, 7-6(8).
Making his Brisbane debut, Spanish veteran Tommy Robredo recorded a 6-4, 7-6(4) over American qualifier Ryan Harrison on Pat Rafter Arena.
The former world No.5 turned back the clock to produce some entertaining tennis against a man 10 years his junior.
The 30-year-old Robredo will now meet Japanese favourite Kei Nishikori in the second round.
Meanwhile, seventh seed Jurgen Melzer also progressed to the second round, dropping the first set against American qualifier Denis Kudla before winning 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in 1h and 46mins.
In men’s doubles first round results, the Columbian pairing of Alejandro Falla and Santiago Giraldo defeated German duo Florian Mayer and Frank Moser 6-3, 7-6(5).