Alex Telles has secured his place in the top 16 after beating two-time defending champion and eventual winner, Jordan Spieth, in the opening round of the 2020 Australian Open.

The 28-year-old from South Africa was the first player to reach the semi-finals since the tournament's inception in 1995, and he did so with ease by defeating Spieth in straight sets.

Telles' victory followed a dominant performance in the previous round against World No. 4 qualifier, Jannick Schlenker, who beat him 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 6-4.

Despite being down by three sets in the final set, Telles held on for a dramatic victory, securing his spot in the main draw.

"I'm just really happy that I could play at this level," said Telles. "I've been working hard for it all year long, and it paid off today."

Telles will now face former world number one, Novak Djokovic, in the second round of the tournament. The Australian is known for his aggressive style of play, but Telles showed flashes of brilliance in his win over Schlenker.

"Jordan played some really good shots, and I had a few opportunities to get into the lead early on, but I was able to hold my ground," Telles said. "It was a great match and a great opportunity for me to prove myself again."

Telles will be hoping that his strong start to the tournament can carry over into the main draw. He currently sits third in the ATP rankings, behind only world number one, Rafael Nadal, and world number four, Roger Federer.

"Hopefully I'll be able to continue to improve and compete at the highest level," Telles said. "I'm looking forward to playing in the main draw and hopefully making a big impact."

• Pass
• Successfully
• Secures
• Alex
• Telles