Taylor Fritz battled his way into the second round of the Australian Open after a four-set victory against Valentin Royer.

The American won 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 6-1 6-3 in just over three hours as he managed to avoid a shock first-round defeat.

Both players lost two service games each on the way to the tiebreak in the first, and despite being 4-1 down, Fritz won six of the next seven points to take the opening set.

However, Royer, who is yet to win a match in 2026, saved four break points in the second before converting one of his own to level the match.

Fritz’s quality then came to the fore, with the ninth seed holding serve for the remainder of the match to progress into the next round.

Fritz’s compatriot Ben Shelton also booked his spot in the second round with a straight-sets win over Ugo Humbert.

Shelton won 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-5) and will face Dane Sweeny, who beat Gael Monfils, next in Melbourne.

Elsewhere, Joao Fonseca suffered a first-round exit at the first grand slam of the year as he was defeated 6-4 2-6 6-1 6-2 by Eliot Spizzirri.

Lorenzo Musetti, on the other hand, was leading Raphael Collingnon 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 3-2 before the latter retired with an injury.

And Sebastian Baez continued his fine start to the calendar year, seeing off Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in five sets.

8 - Sebastian Baez (8) has claimed the most match wins of any player at ATP level in 2026. Form!#AusOpen | @AustralianOpen @atptour @ATPMediaInfo pic.twitter.com/NWKJSzepok

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 20, 2026

Data Debrief: Fritz and Shelton fly the American flag

Fritz (65) has claimed the most men’s singles match wins of any currently active American player at grand slam events.

Currently level with Shelton, only three players born since 2000 have claimed more men’s singles match wins at grand slam events than Musetti (33) – Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Baez, meanwhile, has claimed the most match wins of any player at ATP level in 2026 (eight).