Peter Norfolk opened his Australian Open title defence with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over fellow Briton Andrew Lapthorne on Wednesday in the first of their three quad singles round-robin matches at Melbourne Park.
Meanwhile, Jordanne Whiley, who is making her Grand Slam debut this week along with Lapthorne, put up a fine early effort in her opening women's singles match against Dutch world No 4 Jiske Griffioen, but ultimately slipped to a 6-4, 6-1 loss.
Norfolk, who is bidding for his fifth Australian Open wheelchair tennis title this week, got the better of some tight early games against 20-year-old world No 6 Lapthorne to take a 3-0 lead and extended that before Lapthorne held serve to reduce the deficit to 4-1.
Lapthorne retrieved one of the breaks against him in the next game, but after saving one set point he was unable to save a second as Norfolk took the initiative.
Norfolk broke immediately at the start of the second set and Lapthorne could never get back on terms as the defending champion consolidated a second break to move 5-2 ahead and then served out comfortably.
"The first match always has plenty of pressure, but but playing Andy in his first Grand Slam added even more pressure and I am pleased to come through," said world No 2 Norfolk, who goes on to play current world No 1 David Wagner of the United States in his second match on Thursday.
"My serve started to work and Andy played some very good points, but his nerves in what is a new experience for him certainly helped me today."
"Andy handled his first Grand Slam match very well, he prepared professionally and played some very high quality points," said Tennis Foundation National Programme Coach Stuart Wilkinson, who coaches both players.
"Peter has been here and got the t-shirt and eased into his groove. Tomorrow is Andy's big chance to make his mark at the Australian Open when he goes head-to-head with American Nick Taylor in his second match."
If 18-year-old world No 10 Whiley had any nerves on her Grand Slam debut she didn't show them in the early part of her match against Griffioen, breaking the Dutchwoman in the very first game and she went on to make the first significant breakthrough, winning a tight service game to open up a 4-2 lead.
However, the young Briton was unable to extend that lead to 5-2 and had another chance to level at 5-5, but Griffioen's experience eventually helped to see her through the match.
Whiley will now open her doubles campaign on Thursday, partnering Australia's Daniela di Toro as they take on reigning Wimbledon and US Open champions Esther Vergeer and Sharon Walraven of the Netherlands.
Image - Peter Norfolk by Getty Images
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