KATIE BOULTER survived an intense encounter against Canada’s Rebecca Marino to help set a new British record in Melbourne — with a bit of help from Australia.

For the first time, six British players have won first-round matches at the Australian Open but Boulter had to work extremely hard to join Jack Draper, Emma Raducanu, Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart and Jacob Fearnley in round two.

The 22nd seed was on the ropes early in the third set against her 98th-ranked opponent but, with fiance Alex De Minaur heading from his own victory on Rod Laver Arena to cheer her on, Boulter dug out a 6-4 3-6 7-5 win.