| Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 16-29 January |
| Coverage: Commentary every day from 07:00 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra ‘Tennis Breakfast’ live from Melbourne, with selected live text commentaries and match reports on the BBC Sport website & app |
Britain’s Alfie Hewett began his reign as world number one with victory to set up an Australian Open quarter-final against doubles partner Gordon Reid in the men’s wheelchair event.
The top seed delivered a performance to match his new title with a commanding 6-1 6-0 win over Japan’s Daisuke Arai.
Reid beat Tom Egberink 6-1 3-6 6-4.
Reid, the 2016 champion, overcame Egberink in a third set that was interrupted by rain at Melbourne Park.
However, 17-year-old compatriot Ben Bartram was beaten on his senior Grand Slam debut, losing 6-0 3-6 6-3 to Japan’s Takashi Sanada.
In the women’s wheelchair draw, Lucy Shuker was also knocked out in the first round in a 6-0 6-0 defeat by Japanese second seed Yui Kamiji.
Hewett is bidding for a first Australian Open singles title, having lost to Kunieda in last year’s final.
The US Open champion started his title bid strongly, hitting 27 winners in a one hour and 22 minute victory.
Hewett and Reid will begin their bid for a fourth successive doubles title in Melbourne against Joachim Gerard and Takuto Niki on Wednesday.
