Taylor Fritz, Shelby Rogers books their place in the second round of the Australian Open

In-form American Taylor Fritz has overcome a strong challenge from Nikolaz Basilashvili to safely progress to the Australian Open second round in Melbourne.

Fritz escaped the searing temperatures that forced officials to suspend play on outside courts for almost three hours on Tuesday.

But Basilashvili applied his own heat before eighth-seeded Fritz advanced with a 6-4 6-2 4-6 7-5 victory under a closed roof on John Cain Arena.

Taylor Fritz, the top American seed at the Australian Open, was delighted to seal a win

Fritz overcame the heat and a huge fightback from Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili to win match

Fritz has now chalked up five straight wins this summer, including one rout of former world No.2 Alexander Zverev while helping pilot Team USA to United Cup glory in Sydney.

Fast emerging as an Open title threat, Fritz faces either Australian wildcard Alexei Popyrin or Taiwan’s Chun-Hsin Tseng next on Thursday.

On the women’s side of the draw, it was a successful start to day two for both Shelby Rogers and wildcard Taylor Townsend as well.

Shelby Rogers was also in fine form, beating Arianne Hartono 6-4, 6-3 in her first-round tie

Wildcard Taylor Townsend beat Diane Parry, hardly breaking a sweat in her 6-1, 6-1 victory

Both players overcame their first-round opponents to book a spot in the second round, with Rogers beating qualifier Arianne Hartono 6-4, 6-3, and Townsend downing another wildcard in Diane Parry, 6-1, 6-1.

In the next round, it may not be quite as simple for Rogers, who faces No 5 seed Aryna Sabalenka, while Townsend has No 19 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.

There are already an incredible eight American women into the second round in Melbourne, with the likes of Madison Keys, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula among them.