Hives from Ballarat and Alison Bai lost a tight three-set first round match to Monica Puig (Puerto Rico) and Madison Brengle (United States) – 6-4 1-6 6-4 – on Thursday.

Puig and Brengle secured the match by breaking the serve of the Australians in the 10th game of the third set after 93 minutes on court.

Hives, 21, and Bai made their Australian Open debut as a combination after securing a wildcard with victory in a Bendigo ITF tournament.

However, the Open is not all over for Hives.

She has received a late call-up to play in the mixed doubles.

Hives has been paired with 22-year-old Australian Brad Mousley, who also lost his opening round men's doubles match in three sets.

They have never played together before.

Mousley has a world singles ranking of 313 and 97 in doubles.

The mixed doubles opening round is being played on Friday and Saturday.

Hives and Bai began their match nervously, dropping the opening serve of the match and the third to trail 3-0.

Although they broke back in the next game, the shaky start ultimately cost them the opening set, with just 50 per cent of their first serves finding the mark.

The Australians quickly took control in the second set, closing it out in quick time with two breaks of serve.

The last set developed into an arm-wrestle  

Hives and Bai took the Puig and Brengle serve to deuce in the fifth game, while convincingly holding their own serve.

Puig and Brengle almost faltered at 4-all in the third set with two double faults, but they held their nerve and took the match in the next game.

Hives’ mother Jane said while Zoe was disappointed to lose after getting so close, she had played well and enjoyed the experience on playing on the big stage.