• The British No 1 survived some double fault jitters in a 7-5, 7-6 victory
  • Boulter could meet Emma Raducanu in an all-British clash in the third round
  • Australian Open LIVE: All the latest from Melbourne on superb day for Brits

Katie Boulter stayed on course for a potential third-round meeting with Emma Raducanu after making it through her opener at the Australian Open.

The British No 1 overcame some double-fault jitters to put away China’s world No 73 Yue Yuan 7-5 7-6, and will next face top Chinese player Qinwen Zheng.

She is one win away from a meeting with Raducanu, who thrashed Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-2 in her first-round match.

Boulter will take on Zheng, with the winner of that clash meeting either Raducanu or world No 94 Yafan Wang in the third round.

Raducanu became the fourth Brit to reach the second round on Tuesday in Melbourne after wins for Boulter, Jack Draper and Cameron Norrie – but Dan Evans’ defeat denied them a perfect day.

Katie Boulter booked her place in the second round with victory over China's Yue Yuan

Katie Boulter booked her place in the second round with victory over China’s Yue Yuan

Boulter proved too strong for the world No 73 as she remained on course for a third-round meeting with Emma Raducanu

Boulter proved too strong for the world No 73 as she remained on course for a third-round meeting with Emma Raducanu

Raducanu made light work of American Shelby Rogers as she progressed with a 6-3, 6-2 win

Raducanu made light work of American Shelby Rogers as she progressed with a 6-3, 6-2 win

Boulter also joins boyfriend Alex de Minaur in progressing after Canadian opponent Milos Raonic withdrew mid-match with injury. 

She double faulted on her initial match point as she served to try and close out the match at 5-4 in the second set. In searing temperatures that went into the low 30s she kept her composure impressively and ran away with the tiebreak 7-1 against a useful opponent. 

Victory over Yuan was her first at the Australian Open for five years, and she will hope it is the start of a promising run in Melbourne.

Raducanu enjoyed a happy return to Grand Slam action on Tuesday when she comfortably defeated American Rogers in straight sets.

Playing her first Slam since this event last year, Raducanu needed to be solid against the American who has not played since Wimbledon, and made the sort of errors one might expect after such a long time out.

Raducanu took only 76 minutes to win as the sun went down on the 1573 Arena, with the crowd packed to see her comeback to this level. 

She benefitted from the American’s 35 unforced errors but served well towards the end and never looked in danger. She will know, however, that this was a relatively gentle reintroduction.

Jack Draper put in a huge physical effort to beat Marcos Giron 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-0 6-2

The Briton then was sick in a courtside bin after the physical exertion took its toll on him

Jack Draper put in a huge physical effort to beat Marcos Giron 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-0 6-2. The Briton then was sick in a courtside bin after the physical exertion took its toll on him

Draper looked in clear discomfort as the match ended and he had to sit down to recover

Draper looked in clear discomfort as the match ended and he had to sit down to recover

Fellow Britons Norrie and Draper also booked a place in the second round on Tuesday.

Draper put in a huge physical effort to win his first ever five set match – and promptly ran off court to be sick in a courtside bin after clinching match point.

The 21-year-old southpaw overcame American Marcos Giron 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 in three hours 20 minutes after battling away in 30 degree temperatures at Melbourne Park.

His next opponent will be 14th-seed Tommy Paul of the United States, who swept aside Frenchman Gregoiere Barrere in straight sets.

Boulter has been the subject of a lot of the attention in Melbourne as the girlfriend of Aussie hope Alex de Minaur

Boulter has been the subject of a lot of the attention in Melbourne as the girlfriend of Aussie hope Alex de Minaur

Earlier Cam Norrie had consigned any worries about his wrist to history as he comfortably came past Peru’s Juan Pablo Virallas 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to make the second round. 

The No 19 seed said later that he was grateful for a Tuesday start to allow himself to prepare properly after withdrawing last week from Auckland with a sore left wrist.

He will now face Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri, who had upset Serbian Dusan Lajovic. These warm conditions with heavy balls should suit Norrie as he aims for the second week.

Evans had hoped to make it five from five for the Brits but was beaten 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, 7-6 by Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

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Post source: Daily mail

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