Grigor Dimitrov reached the Australian Open second round with a straight-set win over Austrian Dennis Novak.

Dimitrov, 26, won 6-3 6-2 6-2 in one hour 38 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

“I just tried to be compact, focused, used every opportunity I had and tried to save some energy,” said the Bulgarian, a semi-finalist last year.

Eighth seed Jack Sock lost 6-1 7-6 (7-4) 5-7 6-3 to Yuichi Sugita as 10 of 12 Americans lost in the men’s and women’s singles on day one in Melbourne.

John Isner, the 16th seed, was among the casualties, going down 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-3 to Australia’s Matthew Ebden.

Canadian 18-year-old Denis Shapovalov reached the second round, seeing off Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 6-3 7-6 (7-5).

Russian Andrey Rublev, 20, outlasted Spanish veteran David Ferrer to win 7-5 6-7 (8-10) 6-2 6-7 (8-10) 6-2, while Croatia’s sixth seed Marin Cilic beat Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospisil 6-2 6-2 4-6 7-6 (7-5).

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• Edmund beats Anderson in five sets
• Williams knocked out by Bencic
• Stephens loses to Zhang

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Kyle Edmund claimed the best win of his career as he knocked out 11th seed Kevin Anderson in five sets at the Australian Open.

Edmund, the only British man in the singles draw, won 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 in the first round in Melbourne.

The 23-year-old, ranked 49th, twice came back from a set down and recovered from 2-0 behind in the final set to win in a minute short of four hours.

He goes on to face Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin in the second round.

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Edmund had lost his only previous encounter with Anderson over five sets at last year’s French Open, and he was in no mood to suffer a similar defeat.

US Open finalist Anderson, 31, was predictably dominant for periods on serve, using his 6ft 8in frame to good effect as he finished with 35 aces to Edmund’s 11.

Edmund had been working on his returns in the off-season, however, and it paid off.

After losing a tight first set on the tie-break, Edmund’s heavy forehand began to find its range as he broke for 4-2 on his way to taking the second.

Anderson’s experience told in the third set as he reeled off six of seven points following a rain delay to move ahead once again.

However, urged on by a large British contingent on court three, Edmund broke early in the fourth and roared as he held on from 0-40 to consolidate.

Memories of Paris stirred when Anderson took control of the fifth set at 2-0, but this time Edmund hit straight back.

A shoulder rub was required as the match clock approached four hours but Edmund continued to play aggressively, forcing the errors from Anderson to break serve for a fourth time.

The Briton admitted before the match that he had lost too many matches from wining positions last year and he made no mistake this time, sweeping his 31st forehand winner of the day to clinch victory.

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Jocelyn Rae has her Scottish-born father to thank for the golden moment of a tennis playing career she has ended at the age of 26.

Born and brought up in Nottinghamshire, Rae was thrust unexpectedly into the limelight as part of Scotland’s Commonwealth Games squad heading for Delhi in 2010.

She left India with a glittering prize and a lifelong memory, having won the mixed doubles title with Colin Fleming.

It was all made possible by father Robert – still “a proud Scot” despite having left Plean, near Stirling, as a child – phoning team organisers to check her eligibility.

“It was very out of the blue as the Commonwealth Games was not on my radar,” Rae told BBC Scotland.

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“It was probably one of the best things he has every done.

“My mum and dad are both proud, but my dad is like a whole other level. He still watches the re-runs of the tapes today.”

The 19-year-old Rae was suddenly being talked about as the successor to Elena Baltacha – potentially the next Scot to break into the world’s top 100.

But a foot injury the following year meant she never surpassed the ranking of 450 in singles she achieved at the time of her Commonwealth gold – and ultimately was a major contributor to her decision to quit the game in December.

“The main reason for my decision was injuries,” she explained. “I was plagued with them growing up, as most professional athletes are, and I sustained quite a bad injury on my left foot in 2011.

“It was only a few months after the Commonwealth Games success and so that was a big blow.

“It meant I had to give up singles after two years out of the game after surgery.

“So that was something I always had to manage along the way through the rest of my career.

“And, in my last tournament, I actually woke up with a sore shoulder and, for me, I don’t know what it was, it just clicked that I can’t mentally do the injury side of things any more.”

Rae still managed to make her mark in the doubles game, reaching a highest ranking of 67 in February 2016 and being part of the British team for five Fed Cup campaigns.

However, with wedding plans in place, she will now concentrate on helping develop potential champions after accepting a coaching position with the Lawn Tennis Association.

“I am also a massive home person and, as much as a life of a tennis player is exciting and you obviously get to see beautiful places around the world, do what we love in nice conditions, it was just starting to get a little bit on top of me,” she said.

“It is a lot of travelling. When you are playing the lower tournaments, you can go to a particular country and stay for two, three or four weeks and get a good tour out of that.

“But, when you make it on to the main tour, that’s the goal and where you want to get to, it is tricky. It means you are all over the world.

“It’s tiring sat in the economy side of things. Being 6ft 2in, it is a bit tough on the back and legs.

“It is non-stop. The season is pretty much constant and I was just starting to miss home a lot.

“When I was travelling, I was lucky – I got on really well with my doubles partner, Anna Smith, and we kept each other sane probably.

“I had a coach with me for a few weeks here and there when I could afford it. But, at the end of the day, you are pretty lonely.

“It is a tough place to be, but also I’ve had the best memories and experiences from doing that, so it is a double-edged sword.”

Rae was pleased to have gone out on a high, winning the Odlum Brown VanOpen doubles title with Jessica Moore in August, having reached the Wimbledon mixed doubles quarter-finals with Ken Skupski a month earlier.

“I had such an amazing last year,” she said. “I played Fed Cup for the fifth or sixth time and we got promoted.

“Then Wimbledon and making the quarter-finals, which I had never done before, and not only that – getting to play on Number One Court for the first time and an hour after that being told we had been drawn to face Jamie Murray and Martina Hingis on Centre Court the next day.

“That was like three dreams come true in the space of 48 hours.

“It was a great way to finish it for me because Wimbledon obviously holds a special place in most players’ hearts and especially us Brits.

“We enjoyed the experience and tried really hard, but they were just too good on the day and went on to win the title.

“At the time, I was thinking it was probably going to be my last Wimbledon, so every moment was even more special really.”

Yet it is that moment in the Delhi sunshine, when she and Fleming overcame top seeds Paul Hanley and Anastasia Rodionova of Australia, that she will remember most.

“It was such an unexpected run,” she said of her Commonwealth Games experience. “I had met Colin literally the night before our first match, which we almost lost against two good Australian players.

“After that, I settled into it, we got to know each other a bit more and we just flew from there.

“The whole experience was incredible and to come away with gold was the cherry on top.

“That was an absolute whirlwind of a couple of weeks and was probably my main highlight.”

Kyle Edmund will carry British hopes when the Australian Open starts on Monday, with most of the leading names lining up for 2018’s first Grand Slam despite a number of injury doubts.

Edmund himself has had an ankle problem but says he is fully fit to take on 11th seed Kevin Anderson at 00:00 GMT.

Ninth seed Johanna Konta begins against American Madison Brengle on day two.

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka have all declared themselves fit after ending 2017 with injuries.

However, British number one Andy Murray is absent after having hip surgery last week and American defending champion Serena Williams is not yet ready to compete just four months after giving birth.

At 36, Roger Federer remains the favourite to land a 20th Grand Slam title in the men’s draw, while world number one Simona Halep, second seed Caroline Wozniacki and Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza are just some of the names expected to contend for the women’s title.

Hopes of a first home singles champion for 30 years are on the rise thanks to the encouraging form of men’s 17th seed Nick Kyrgios and Ashleigh Barty, who is seeded 18th in the women’s draw.

“It was nice to do well last week and get a few matches under my belt,” said Barty, who reached the Sydney International final on Saturday.

“This is the best time of the year for all Aussies. I’m just really excited to get under way.”

• Who’s fully fit? Who’s favourite? And who will win the Australian Open?
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British hopes hit by Murray absence

With Murray injured, Dan Evans serving a doping ban and Aljaz Bedene having reverted to Slovenian nationality, Edmund is the only British man in the singles draw.

“My approach doesn’t change because I’m the only British guy in the draw,” said the 23-year-old, ranked 49th.

“It’s more of a shame than anything that Andy isn’t playing. I don’t really think any differently, it’s just the reality. I can just go on the court and play my tennis, that’s all.”

Edmund showed good form in Brisbane at the start of the month, before losing to world number three Grigor Dimitrov, and the ankle issue he picked up along the way has since settled down.

He will face a tough test against Anderson, who reached the US Open final last September and has started 2018 strongly.

The 6ft 8in South African won their only previous encounter, a gruelling five-setter on the French Open clay last year.

“Eight months on, I’d like to say I’m a bit more experienced and hopefully I can learn from that and do better,” said Edmund.

“My serve’s improved and putting some more balls into play on the return is definitely going to be good for me against Kevin.”

Konta and Heather Watson complete the British contingent in singles, with both women scheduled to play their first-round matches on Tuesday.

Naomi Broady fell in the final round of qualifying against Bibiane Schoofs of the Netherlands on Saturday.

Jamie Murray and Brazilian partner Bruno Soares have begun the season encouragingly and the Briton has high hopes of repeating his 2016 triumph in Melbourne.

Slow start to 2018 could benefit Nadal

Nadal and Wozniacki are the highest seeds in action on day one, with men’s number one Nadal up against Victor Estrella Burgos of the Dominican Republic and women’s second seed Wozniacki taking on Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu.

Nadal will play his first match of the season when he opens the night session at 08:00, after choosing not to play a warm-up event as he nursed his knee back to health.

“We decided to start later because we needed some more practice – start slow, to be fresher, a little bit more fresh mentally and physically – and do things the right way,” said the 31-year-old Spaniard.

Wozniacki, 27, heads into her 43rd Grand Slam still looking for a first major title, but finally back among the contenders following an impressive 2017 season.

The Dane brushed aside any suggestion that the quest for a Grand Slam victory brings more pressure as each year passes.

“I don’t put more, I don’t put less pressure,” she said.

“It’s just the same. It’s a new tournament, a new year. I’m healthy. I have the opportunity to play here. I’m just going to enjoy that, see where it takes me.”

Kyrgios will capture much of the local attention as he takes on Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva on Hisense Arena at 07:45.

The 22-year-old from Canberra raised expectations around him further by winning the warm-up event in Brisbane.

“I feel for me there’s pressure wherever I go,” said Kyrgios.

“I’m expected to win a lot of matches. No matter if I’m here, Wimbledon, US Open, it’s the same for me.”

Roger Federer says his age helps take the pressure off as he heads into the Australian Open tipped to win.

The Swiss five-time champion won his first major title for five years with a stunning run in Melbourne last year.

And with rivals Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on their way back from injury, and Briton Andy Murray absent, Federer remains the man to beat.

“I play down my chances just because I don’t think a 36-year-old should be a favourite of a tournament,” he said.

“It should not be the case. That’s why I see things more relaxed at a later stage of my career,” added the world number two, who is looking to win a 20th Grand Slam title.

“I feel like maybe somebody like a Rafa, with the year that he’s had, and Novak, with the six titles he’s had here, even if it’s unknown how he’s feeling, they could very well be the favourites too.”

• Who’s fully fit? Who’s favourite? And who will win the Australian Open?
• BBC coverage times

Federer will begin his 20th Australian Open campaign on Tuesday against world number 51 Aljaz Bedene, the former Briton who returned to playing under the Slovenian flag on 1 January.

Asked about the seeming glut of injuries at the top of the men’s game, with fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka another whose participation was in doubt and Kei Nishikori of Japan absent with a wrist injury, Federer put it down mainly to “coincidence”.

“The players and their trainers and the tour and everybody should try their very best to make sure they can avoid injuries,” he added.

“Is that by playing less? Is that by training different? Is that by playing a different schedule? Whose responsibility is it at the end of the day?

“I think it’s the players. Sometimes you do get unlucky. Like a soccer team, sometimes you have seasons where more guys are hurt than others.”

Federer himself came into last year’s tournament off the back of a six-month injury lay-off, making his eventual triumph all the more remarkable.

He went on to add an eighth Wimbledon title later in the year and returned to second in the rankings, behind only Spaniard Nadal.

“Last year was more of a ‘let’s see what happens’ kind of tournament, maybe similar to what Novak or Stan or others are going through this year,” said Federer.

“I [wasn’t] at 100%, but you never know in a week’s time what’s going to be happening. If you’re in the draw, you give yourself a chance.

“That’s what happened for me last year.”

Bernard Tomic said he was heading home to “count my millions” after failing to qualify for the Australian Open.

The Australian lost 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 to Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the final round of qualifying in Melbourne.

It will be the first time since 2008 that 25-year-old Tomic has not featured in the main draw, with Tennis Australia having chosen not to offer the world number 142 a wildcard.

“I just count money, that’s all I do,” he told Channel 7.

• Who’s fully fit? Who’s favourite? And who will win the Australian Open?
• BBC coverage times
• Live scores and results

The remark echoed his reaction to criticism for a lack of commitment in Madrid last year, when he said: “Would you care if you were 23 and worth over $10m?”

A two-time junior Grand Slam champion, Tomic became Australian number one and reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals as an 18-year-old qualifier in 2011.

He reached the third round at last year’s Australian Open, but will fall further down the next set of rankings after this qualifying failure.

Local media have reported he is considering taking part in the Australian version of television show I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

Tomic’s previous controversies

Tomic was fined $15,000 (£11,581) at last year’s Wimbledon for saying he was “bored” and feigning injury during his defeat by Mischa Zverev of Germany.

It was the latest in a number of incidents during a professional career that began in 2008.

Tomic was criticised for ruling himself out of the Rio 2016 Olympics because of an “extremely busy” schedule, a year after he was dropped by Tennis Australia – for a second time – from their Davis Cup squad.

He was left out in 2015 after accusing the governing body of abandoning him following hip surgery in 2014, but has since returned to the team.

Further questions were raised about his attitude when he held his racquet by the strings when facing match point in a Madrid Open tie last year.

Tomic’s career has also been affected by off-court controversy.

In July 2015, he was charged with resisting arrest and trespassing by police in the United States after refusing to leave a hotel room.

And his father, John, was sentenced to eight months in prison for assaulting his son’s training partner before the 2013 Madrid Open.