Australian Open Qualifying Live Score: Yuki Bhambri plays for main draw match updates

India's Yuki Bhambri is one match win away from making the main draw of the Australian Open 2017

Updated: 14 January 2017 11:45 IST - Published: 14 January 2017 09:20 IST

That was a disappointing run. After what can only be described as an explosive, come-from-behind start, Yuki Bhambri has fizzled out, going down tamely to Ernesto Escobedo, who wins 6-7(2), 2-6, 6-4.

Bhambri and Escobedo are level at one set all, with the American winning it 6-2. Could be anybody's game now, and it'll go down to the wire after that great first set from the Indian.

Escobedo has a 2-1 lead in the second set, up a break of serve. But he took an early lead in the previous one only to lose in a tiebreak so this is not a big worry for the talented Indian!

Apologies for the updates - as we've lost a stream! We'll bring you score action momentarily.

Yuki Bhambri, take a bow! He's rushing the net, but mostly staying at the baseline and playing some great shots - backhands and forehands, and he takes the first set in a tiebreak!

6-6!! It's time now for a first set tiebreak!

And yet another close game goes upto deuce - and it's Escobedo who holds to lead 6-5. For the second time, Bhambri serves to stay in the set.

The Indian is bringing his all here! It looked a bit dangerous for him as he netted a crucial point, but he holds to level 5-5! This is quite the contest.

Bhambri looked threatening for a minute there, but that was a bit short-lived. He's outplayed by Escobedo and quite quickly. Escobedo leads 5-4, and Bhambri will now serve to stay in the set.

Scores are now level at 4 games all.

Arguably the best rally of the game so far! Escobedo, trying to end that, rushes to the net, hits it, and Bhambri returns with a nice spinning one of his own. That shot went over Escobedo's head in every way possible, and Bhambri evens the playing field again.

Bhambri breaks back to trail 3-4.

We've got a contest on our hands! Escobedo's forehand is going all over the place here and it's not going too well for him. Bhambri has his on point for now, though, and sends a great forehand winner to break back!

Ooh. An attempted drop shot by Escobedo there. It was almost an ace...but unfortunately went very long. Bhambri gets the point, and holds his service game. Bhambri 2-4 Escobedo.

And Escobedo holds. He's got a quick, movement-filled game and he almost bounces across court to send a forehand winner in there. He leads 4-1.

And finally, he holds serve. But the game seems a bit sluggish, somehow, not the pacey stuff we're normally used to seeing from India's former top player.

Bhambri returns a fast Escobedo forehand with a slice. Unfortunately that's a bit too flat and he nets it completely. He's trailing 0-3.

And now he's bringing it in Bhambri's service game! Escobedo breaks to go 2-0 up in the first set.

Escobedo holds serve quickly to go one up. 1-0!

Today he's up against Ernesto Escobedo of the United States and it's going to be a fight!

Yuki Bhambri, one of its biggest singles stars in the past, has made it to the main draws of multiple Slams before, but not progressed deep in.

But singles success has long evaded the country.

India will have seeded players in the women's doubles (World No. 2) Sania Mirza - and the men's doubles, with Rohan Bopanna.

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