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Nine Aussies survive first round at Wimbledon

Casey Dellacqua has decided to retire and spend more time at home.

Casey Dellacqua has decided to retire and spend more time at home. Photo: Getty

Four more Aussies have progressed to the second round of the British grand slam.

Cheered on by colourful, chanting supporters, good mates James Duckworth and Sam Groth set up an all-Australian second-round clash.

The hard-hitting Groth got the better of American Jack Sock in four sets, finishing strongly to claim a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win against the number 31 seed.

• Casey Dellacqua charges into round two
• How Lleyton Hewitt has worn us all down
• Love match for tennis ace Nick Kyrgios?

Duckworth, the grandson of former 1955 Australian Open champion Beryl Penrose, took just over three hours to overcome Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri in five sets, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2, 3-6, 3-6, 7-6.

Casey Dellacqua is back in form.

Casey Dellacqua is back in form. Photos: Getty

Duckworth and Groth’s victories were career firsts at The All England Club.

Two Aussie women have also stormed their way into the second round, with Ajla Tomljanovic defeating Czech Republic’s Klara Koukalova 6-3 6-4, and Casey Dellacqua easily beating Austrian Tamira Paszek 6-2 6-2.

Dellacqua will next face Ukrainian 17th seed Elina Svitolina for a spot in the third round and the French Open doubles finalist says she’ll take plenty of confidence into Thursday’s match.

After years battling foot and shoulder injuries, Dellacqua is looking to improve on her best-ever Wimbledon finish when she reached the third round in 2008.

The mercury was set to soar towards 35 degrees on Wednesday, forcing tournament organisers to implement precautionary measures to ensure the safety of players and spectators.

A severe weather warning was issued with what could be the hottest day in the tournament’s 138-year history.

Five other Aussies — Nick Kyrgios, Matthew Ebden, John Millman, Sam Stosur and Bernard Tomic — have already won through to the second round.

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