Rising talent Max Purcell has spoken to Tennis Australia about being overlooked for the Australian Open wildcard after Lleyton Hewitt was accused of favoritism.
Purcell, who was forced out of qualification, his aspirations of playing singles in Melbourne next week, lost 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (10-8) to Jiri Leheka of the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
Kimberly Birrell was the only winner among eight Australians who claimed a 6–2, 6–1 victory over Ekaterine Gorgodz of Georgia.
Birrell, who has spent the past 12 months battling an elbow injury, will have to beat Britain's Harriet Dart to secure her spot in Melbourne next week.
But Purcell was the highlight after his inflammatory comments earlier in the week, where he claimed Hewitt "didn't have the ball to tell him" he had missed a wildcard.
In addition to confirming that he had talks with Tennis Australia, the world number 174 said: "I really don't want to talk about it.
"I said I'm not bothered about getting a wildcard. I want to beat the guys in qualifying and I want to earn my place in the main draw. I don't have any hard feelings there."
Purcell's loss to Australia's men on Wednesday was one of many, with 20-year-old Dane Sweeney losing to Kazakhstan's Timofey Skatov 6-4, 6-2.
Philippe Sekulik, an 18-year-old Queenslander, was no match for another Kazakh, Dmitry Popko, who claimed a 6-4 6-2 victory over the Australian.
Sydneysider Rinki Hijikata was forced to retire when he was set against Bosnian Damir Zumhur.
Later in the day, Jason Kubler lost to Argentina's Tomas Martin Echeveri 7-5 5-7 6-3 and former Junior Australian Open champion Mark Polmans defeated Portugal's Joao Sousa 3-6, 6-0, 6-4. faced defeat. ,
Birrell enjoyed the only win among women on Wednesday, losing 6-0, 6-0 to 16-year-old Western Australian Tayla Preston to Jung Soo-jeong of South Korea.
"To be honest, even just playing the first round on Monday meant a lot to me," Birrell said.
"I'm only taking it in one match at a time. Every time I walk off the court, I pinch myself and feel really grateful."