Australia may have seen another of its competitors culled from the Australian Open singles draw, but as consolation, we may have witnessed the birth of a brand new star in women's tennis.
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, aged just 15 years and 162 days, looked totally untroubled against Australia's Olivia Rogowska — ranked 353 places above the youngster — in a straight-sets win on Margaret Court Arena.
Kostyuk, who won her maiden ITF title by scooping the 2017 Australian Open juniors singles crown, looked unfazed by her high-profile court assignment against a local hopeful in a seemingly effortless 6-3, 7-5 win.
With a modest $US6,733 career earnings to date (prior to the Australian Open, according to the WTA), Kostyuk had already turned heads by becoming the youngest player to win a match at the Australian Open in 22 years by beating China's 25th-seed Peng Shuai in the first round, also in straight sets.
At her age, Kostyuk is set to break a number of records, and by qualifying for the tournament proper, she became the first player born in 2002 to play in a grand slam main draw.
Double faults proved a worry for the Ukrainian, with 11 errors on serve to Rogowska's three, but six aces and 22 winners more than made up for the one blemish in her game.
There was one comical moment for Kostyuk when, serving for the match, she belted her service straight into the stands behind Rogowska's baseline.
But she held her nerve to win through to the third round on the following point, dropping her racket and holding her head as the crowd put partisanship to one side to applaud a sparkling prospect in women's tennis.
Rogowska's loss means Ashleigh Barty and Daria Gavrilova are the only remaining locals left in the women's singles draw.
It was Rogowska's third chance to reach the third round on home soil for the first time in her career, after second-round knock-outs in 2012 and 2014.
All-Ukrainian clash with tournament favourite
Kostyuk's win will see her face off against compatriot fourth-seed Elina Svitolina, who overcame a sticky start to motor past Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova in three sets.
Svitolina looms as one of the tournament favourites and after losing the first set, she hit the afterburners to cruise past Siniakova 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
In a great day for Ukrainians, Kateryna Bondarenko enjoyed a straight-sets win over Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, winning 6-2, 6-3.
Czech qualifier Denisa Allertova proved the stronger in her tussle with China's Zhang Shuai in a 6-4, 6-5 (7-5) victory.
Wozniacki survives after staring at early exit
World number two Caroline Wozniacki avoided joining other high-profile casualties in the women's draw, surviving two match points to fight her way through to the third round with a dramatic win over Jana Fett.
The second-seed Wozniacki came close to an early exit in a tense 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 triumph over the Croatian Fett, who is ranked 103 in the world.
Wozniacki clawed her way back from 5-1, 40-15 down in the third set to win six straight games and clinch victory in stifling hot conditions on Rod Laver Arena.
The Dane will meet either Kiki Bertens or Nicole Gibbs for a spot in the fourth round.
