Wildcards Gibson, McCabe lead Aussie charge at the Open

Shooting for the lines, Gibson opened up after scraping through the second-set tiebreaker and was rewarded for her courage with the most significant win of her fledgling career.

"The Aussie crowds are always so amazing. You're always able to get so much energy from them wherever you are," the 20-year-old Gibson said.

"That definitely played a huge part in helping me today. It's super exciting."

The world No.150 will pocket a minimum $200,000 for setting up a shot at Spanish 11th seed Paula Badosa on Wednesday.

First Grand Slam win, first top 100 win �— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) What a moment for Aussie wildcard Talia Gibson as she comes back from a set down to defeat Sonmez 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 🇦🇺@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/qv8qL5DCICJanuary 13, 2025

McCabe also wowed a legion of fervent fans on Court 6 - including rugby league and union dual international Sonny Bill Williams - with a rousing 6-4 6-3 6-4 victory over Spanish wildcard Martin Landaluce.

The Filipino-born 21-year-old couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he signed autographs and posed for selfies following his watershed win.

His reward, as well as a financial windfall, is a meeting with unseeded American Alex Michelsen, who dumped world No.11 Stefanos Tsitsipas from the tournament.

Fellow wildcard Tristan Schoolkate joined the party, downing Japan's Taro Daniel 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 6-4 in his Open main-draw debut.

Veterans James Duckworth, Ajla Tomljanovic, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Aleksandar Vukic also progressed.

Duckworth thumped Swiss Dominic Stricker 6-2 6-4 6-2 to book a date with Spaniard Roberto Carbelles Baena, while Tomljanovic notched a fighting three-set win over exciting young American Ashlyn Krueger.

Also playing on a wildcard after falling out of the world's top 100 while battling a knee injury for much of the past two years, Tomljanovic prevailed 6-4 4-6 6-4 after a two-hour, 22-minute slugfest on Margaret Court Arena.

The three-time grand slam quarter-finalist next faces 12th seed Dianna Schnaider on Wednesday, needing to upset the Russian to make the last 32 at Melbourne Park for the first time in 10 attempts.

Wildcard James McCabe scored a joyous maiden grand slam win at Melbourne Park. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

World No.27 Jordan Thompson endured a few late jitters before closing out German Dominik Koepfer, franking his first-time grand slam seeding with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 4-6 6-3 triumph.

Thompson, who has plenty of five-set heartbreakers on his CV, faltered when serving for the match in the fourth set at 5-1, but composed himself to kill off the contest.

"I was a bit worried too. I thought it was going to get away from me," he said.

"It was a typically 'Thommo' match."

Thompson came into the tournament under an injury cloud, having cited foot pain when retiring in his Brisbane International quarter-final with defending champion Grigor Dimitrov.

The Australian said his preparation hadn't been the best, and that he felt the weight of expectation after a breakout season in 2024.

Britain's Jacob Fearnley eliminated Nick Kyrgios in straight sets. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Vukic fought back from two sets to one down to claim a 6-7 (3-7) 6-0 3-6 6-3 6-4 win over Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, while Thanasi Kokkinakis shook off a slow start and a thigh issue in a gutsy 3-6 6-3 6-3 7-6 (7-5) win over Russia's Roman Safiullin.

His doubles partner Nick Kyrgios was also struck down with an apparent injury, crashing to 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 7-6 (7-2) loss to Scottish world No.86 Jacob Fearnley in his long-awaited grand slam comeback.

Wildcard Maya Joint also bowed out with a 6-3 6-0 loss to seventh seed Jessica Pegula.

Fellow Australians Chris O'Connell and Destanee Aiava, meanwhile, were locked at one set apiece in their respective night clashes against 12th-seeded American Tommy Paul and Belgium's Greet Minnen.