Johannesburg - South Africa's top-ranked junior tennis player Ilze Hattingh started her Australian Open Junior Championships campaign in Melbourne in fine style on Saturday.
The 17-year-old, coached by South African Davis and Fed Cup captain John-Laffnie de Jager upset eighth seed Nina Stojanovik of Serbia 6-2, 6-2 in her opening round.
Stojanovik is the 20 ranked junior in the world and was earmarked as one of the favourites to win the title in Melbourne.
Hattingh will now play Yukina Saigo of Japan in the second round.
She is the only South African junior player represented in the draw of the tournament.
Ranked 76 on the world junior rankings, Hattingh won the doubles at the 2012 African Junior Championships and is a member of the South African Fed Cup team.
"I really enjoyed my match and felt good out there," Hattingh said.
"I was well prepared for Nina and I was determined to give myself the best chance of winning my first round and am glad that I did."
"I told myself to see it as just another match and not to get nervous because when I play on the big stage and get nervous it doesn't go my way."