Testing starts to AO campaigns

Sharing the spotlight with Shang in the women's draw was world No 702 Bai Zhuoxuan.

Virtually unknown to international fans, Bai introduced herself on the major stage by upsetting former major finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in her first-round challenge on Sunday.

Fighting through three qualifying rounds to make it to the main draw, Bai, who has been dubbed the "White Whirlwind" by Chinese fans, served up proof of her game by edging out the 2021 French Open finalist 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (10) in a grueling two-hour-and-43-minute seesaw battle at the Kia Arena.

Although unfamiliar to most of the local crowd, Bai's scintillating form at the Melbourne Park has not come completely out of the blue as the 23-year-old had already left her mark on the major stage in 2023, when she broke into the second round at Wimbledon in her Grand Slam main draw debut.

Now after shocking another world-class opponent at a major, Bai has once again staked her claim to the Grand Slam courts. Without any concerns physically, Bai said she felt more confident than ever after recovering from multiple injuries on her lower back and right foot.

"Perhaps I would've won my first match at the AO a bit earlier (if not injured), but it's never too late to win at a major," said Bai, who had to take a year-and-a-half break before returning to competition in fall last year.

Her drop in rankings won't be a problem as long as she trusts her game, Bai said, adding that she's grown more passionate about the sport than before.

"To be healthy again and play the sport at the highest level, I feel like I love tennis more and trust myself more," said Bai, who is up against Belarusian world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the second round.