Dan Evans & James Ward win opening Australian Open qualifier

Dan Evans won his opening qualifying match at the Australian Open on a day where temperatures in Melbourne reached 42 degrees

Britain's Dan Evans and James Ward both won their opening Australian Open qualifiers to move within two victories of the main draw.

Evans lost his serve just once as he beat Italian top seed Luca Vanni 7-6 (7-5) 6-4, and he will face Israel's Amir Weintraub in the second round.

Ward sent down 16 aces in a 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 win over Canada's Peter Polansky.

Elsewhere, Nick Kyrgios suffered a pre-Open scare when he pulled out of his opening match at the Kooyong Classic.

The 20-year-old Australian handed Belgian David Goffin victory as he retired with a foot injury. He later tweeted that it was precautionary.

The year's first Grand Slam starts in Melbourne on Monday.

Nick Kyrgios reassured fans after his withdrawal

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