A quartet of British players booked their spots in the second round of the Nottingham Open on Monday.
A strong start to the grass court season for the host nation saw Harriet Dart kick off proceedings against Croatia's Donna Vekic - who won the 2017 competition - and the Brit eased to a 6-4 6-3 success.
Dart had previously lost four matches on the bounce before triumphing in straight sets, which came in spite of Vekic breaking immediately in both sets before Dart came storming back.
Vekic's forehand return into the net clinched the first set for Dart, whose spot in the second round was confirmed when Vekic returned long from her well-placed serve.
"You have to stay really low and really aggressive on grass otherwise you're on the back foot a lot," the world number 111 said during her on-court interview. "I really enjoy being back on home turf and I'm looking forward to my next match."
Dart could potentially face an all-British second-round affair with wildcard Sonay Kartal, who faces Camila Giorgi of Italy on Tuesday.
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Heather Watson immediately followed her compatriot onto the court and also needed just the two sets to see off the USA's Katie Volynets 6-4 6-2, although she needed a medical timeout after failing to serve for the first set at 5-3 up.
The 30-year-old received treatment for a thigh problem before breaking Volynets to take the first set, but the second was a much more straightforward affair as the American netted a forehand to bow out.
"It was a weird one today. In the beginning of the first set I tweaked my hamstring and it was just getting worse and worse," Watson explained after her victory.
"I was dreading having to pull out. The trainer recommended not to continue but I said I have to. I really felt the support and that pushed me over the line. It was a relief."
Watson is also facing the prospect of an all-British showdown with Emma Raducanu, who kicks off her Nottingham Open quest against Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland.
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In the men's tournament, Dan Evans was pushed all the way by Enzo Couacaud of France but also claimed a two-set win, prevailing 7-5 7-6 on the day.
A well-executed backhand slice from Evans proved too difficult for Couacaud to return as his forehand hit the net, and despite being taken to a tie break in the second set, the number one seed advanced comfortably.
Fresh from reaching the semi-finals of the Surbiton Trophy, Jodie Burrage also joined her compatriots in the last-16 stage with a 7-6 [7-5] 6-4 victory over China's Lin Zhu.
As well as Raducanu and Kartal, Katie Boulter, Eden Silva and Yuriko Miyazaki will also be in first-round action tomorrow, while Liam Broady headlines the men's action alongside Daniel Cox, Ryan Peniston, Jay Clarke, Paul Jubb and Alastair Gray.
Ben Knapton
