Li Tu, Tristan Schoolkate, James McCabe and Alex Bolt begin Wimbledon qualifying with wins
Li Tu is the pick of the first wave of Australians in Wimbledon qualifying, knocking out Colombian Daniel Galan, the fourth seed, 6-3 6-2.
Galan is ranked number 122 in the world, 46 places higher than Tu, and made the last 16 at Wimbledon two years ago before running into Jannik Sinner.
But the 29-year-old from Adelaide played excellently to take the first step towards his first main draw appearance at the grass court grand slam.
Joining him in the second round will be Tristan Schoolkate, James McCabe and Alex Bolt, who all won the first of three matches they will need to negotiate to make the Wimbledon main draw.
Recent Ilkley Trophy winner Schoolkate had to work harder than expected against Argentine world number 198 Facundo Diaz Acosta before coming through 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-3.
Bolt had a simpler Monday afternoon at Roehampton, putting away Frenchman Harold Mayot 6-3, 6-4.
McCabe had a 6-4, 7-5 win over Borna Gojo of Croatia.
There was heartbreak for Jason Kubler, who was due to face a British wildcard ranked 943rd in the world.
Shortly before he was due to face Oliver Bonding, Kubler had to withdraw due to a right knee injury.
There was disappointment too for Omar Jasika, who fell to Czech 15th seed Dalibor Svrcina 6-1 6-2.
World number one junior Emerson Jones will lead Australia's women's qualifying challenge, which begins on Tuesday.
Jones, who reached the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior finals last year, is joined in the draw by Talia Gibson, Priscilla Hon, Daria Saville, Astra Sharma, Destanee Aiava, Maddison Inglis, Lizette Cabrera, Arina Rodionova and Taylah Preston.
Thirteen Australians — eight men and five women — already have a place in the main draws, among them James Duckworth and Aleksandar Vukic who meet at the Eastbourne Open on the south coast on Tuesday (local time).
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