Britain’s Katie Boulter claimed one of the biggest wins of her career with a three-set victory over Coco Gauff in the Gippsland Trophy second round.
Boulter, ranked 371 in the world after an injury lay-off, beat 48th-ranked American Gauff 3-6 7-5 6-2.
The Briton – who plays US Open champion Naomi Osaka next – had not won consecutive WTA matches since 2018.
Earlier, British number one Johanna Konta beat Bernarda Pera in her first match of 2021.
Konta beat the American 6-2 6-3 to set up a meeting with Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu.
Boulter’s third-round opponent Osaka needed just over an hour to sweep aside Alize Cornet 6-2 6-2.
I’m as strong as I’ve ever been – Boulter
Gauff is only 16 but she is one of the most talked about players on the WTA circuit after her runs at the Australian Open in 2020 and Wimbledon the previous year.
She beat defending champion Osaka in Melbourne last year on her way to the fourth round and was seeded 14th at the Gippsland event.
However, she was unable to convert match point at 6-3 5-4 in the second set, allowing Boulter to fight her way back into the match.
Gauff served three double faults in the final game of the match as Boulter closed out an impressive victory in one hour 46 minutes.
“I am as strong as I have ever been physically,” Boulter said.
“Mentally I feel like I’m in a great place after that very difficult time.”
In the same event, world number seven Aryna Sabalenka was stunned by Kaia Kanepi.
Sabalenka, who was on a 15-match winning streak, lost 6-1 2-6 6-1 to the Estonian.
The Gippsland Trophy is one of six events being held at Melbourne Park this week to allow players to prepare for the Australian Open.
In the Yarra Valley Classic, defending Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin advanced when her opponent Camila Giorgi retired with injury.
American Kenin had taken the first set 7-5 when Giorgi ended the match.
World number one Ashleigh Barty won her first competitive match in just under a year with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Romania’s Ana Bogdan.
The Australian, who reached the semi-finals in Melbourne last year, saved the one break point she faced and won 84% of points on her first serve.
Fourth seed Petra Kvitova edged out Venus Williams 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 in the final match of the day.
Kvitova and Williams’ seven previous meetings had all gone to three sets but despite Williams overturning a 4-1 deficit in the second, she was unable to force a decider.
Czech Kvitova will play French Open semi-finalist Nadia Podoroska in the third round, while Barty will face Marie Bouzkova.
Nothing fun or easy about quarantine – Watson
The Grampians Trophy, which is the third WTA event and is for players who underwent a “hard quarantine” on their arrival, begins on Wednesday.
Britain’s Heather Watson, who was among the 72 players who were not allowed to leave their hotel rooms for 14 days after positive coronavirus cases on their charter flights to Australia, will play Russian Veronika Kudermetova in the first round.
Watson said there was nothing “fun or easy” about the two-week quarantine.
“I remember at home when I was younger I used to watch these Australian border control programmes on TV and they were always savage,” Watson joked.
“So I knew that we were in there for the 14 days, and I accepted that pretty quickly.
“After coming out, I just appreciate all the small things, like fresh air, space – things you don’t usually think of.”
Former world number ones Victoria Azarenka and Angelique Kerber are also in the draw.
However, Bianca Andreescu withdrew from the event to focus on the Australian Open.
The Canadian, who won the US Open in 2019, has not played in more than a year after suffering a knee injury.