Kush Kumar notched up an impressive 9-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 win over Martin Svec to book a place in the main draw of the Australian Open.
Svec looked in fine form in the opening game giving very little chance for Kumar to counter-attack. The Indian turned tables on his Czech opponent in the next three games as he upped his ante through terrific strokes.
Kumar started his Australian campaign by winning the Tasmanian Open, before losing in the quarterfinals of the Victorian Open.
Kumar takes on eighth seed Rex Hedrick in the first round on Wednesday. Mahesh Mangaonkar and Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu are the other Indian men in contention in Melbourne.
Mangaonkar, seeded sixth in the tournament opens up against Australia’s Rhys Dowling, while Harinder takes on another Australian Joshua Larkin.