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Jordan Thompson and Priscilla Hon have made it six Australians through to the French Open second round, while Bernard Tomic fell with barely a whimper.
Jordan Thompson may need to call an arborist after lining up a French Open rematch with ageless giant Ivo Karlovic, who he says serves "out of a tree".
The Australian - one of six through to the second round - made the most of his slice of fortune to help Australia to their equal-best French Open start since 1990.
He beat lucky loser Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Paris on a windswept Tuesday, dodging Canadian young gun Felix Auger-Aliassime (groin) after his late withdrawal.
Davidovich Fokina boasted the recent scalp of Gael Monfils but the Australian dominated 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-3) to join Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin in the next round.
He will next play big-serving 40-year-old Karlovic, who beat Thompson in five sets at the same stage three years ago and on Tuesday became the oldest player to win at Roland Garros since 1973.
"Remarkable (to be performing at this age) ... he's serving out of a tree, unbelievable reach, volleys well," Thompson said of Karlovic.
"I had a heartbreaker against him three years ago.
"I'd just made the top 100, I was a wildcard, I was so disappointed because I thought I'd missed a massive opportunity, but life goes on."
Thompson joins young Australian pair Alexei Popyrin and Alex de Minaur in the last 64, both of who will play their second round matches on Wednesday.
Wildcard Priscilla Hon will join Samantha Stosur and Ashleigh Barty in the second round after a 3-6 6-2 6-1 comeback win over Timea Babos - her first in the Roland Garros main draw.
"I was getting frustrated, I've been ranked around here (top 100) but at big tournaments I hadn't been getting wins," Hon, who plays 14th seed Madison Keys next, said.
"She's (Keys) one of the best so I'm excited to see what I can do against her."
Daria Gavrilova, whose thigh was heavily strapped, was forced to retire while trailing in the second set 6-3 2-2 to Serbian Aleksandra Krunic, while Matthew Ebden was felled by French qualifier Gregoire Barrerre in four sets.
Only a dogged fightback from defending champion Simona Halep stopped Ajla Tomljanovic from being one of seven Australians through.
The size of the country's second round contingent instead equals the six of 2015.
Earlier, Bernard Tomic bombed out in just 82 minutes to hand American Taylor Fritz his most dominant grand slam victory.
Denying that he wasn't giving his best effort, Tomic said he agreed with compatriot Nick Kyrgios's assessment last week that the French Open "sucked" but added that the tournament was just "not for me".
On centre court John Millman was barely into the second set of his titanic battle with Alexander Zverev when Tomic was talking to media.
Like Tomic he will receive about $75,000 for his first round exit, despite toiling for more than four hours as he fought back from two sets behind the fifth-seeded German only to fall in a quality five-setter.
HOW THE AUSSIES FARED ON DAY THREE (PREFIX DENOTES SEEDING):
* Taylor Fritz (USA) d Bernard Tomic 6-1 6-4 6-1
* 5-Alexander Zverev (GER) d John Millman 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 2-6 6-7 (7-5) 6-3
* Jordan Thompson d Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-3)
* Priscilla Hon d Timea Babos (HUN) 3-6 6-2 6-1
* Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) d Daria Gavrilova 6-3 2-2 (ret)
* Gregoire Barrerre (FRA) d Matt Ebden 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-1
* 3-Simona Halep (ROU) d Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2 3-6 6-1
AUSSIES IN ACTION ON DAY FOUR
* 21-Alex de Minaur v Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)
* Alexei Popyrin v 31-Laslo Djere (SRB).
