From the 2015 high of Australia's biggest Wimbledon singles representation in 20 years, the skinnier current contingent includes just two sightings of (AUS) in the women's draw. 
Sam Stosur, the 14th seed, was due to open her 14th campaign overnight, which leaves just Daria Gavrilova to follow. Not since Stosur's solo performance at 2013 Wimbledon have the pickings been so slim.
The 2011 junior champion, Ash Barty, was the sole Australian in the qualifying draw, as the 20-year-old embarks along the path back from an extended break that included a flirtation with retirement and a dalliance with Big Bash cricket. Ajla Tomljanovic, who plays under the Australian flag at the grand slams while awaiting citizenship, had shoulder surgery in   March. Also missing from last year's cast is Casey Dellacqua, now effectively a doubles specialist, and another shoulder victim, Jarmila Wolfe.
For Gavrilova, the breakout local star of this year's Australian Open, Wimbledon rates as a unique and special place, and grass as a surface on which she considers herself highly capable. Yet the 22-year-old, who went 2-2 in her lead-up events in Birmingham and Eastbourne, is 0-2 in her brief career at the All England Club, and now faces China's Wang Chiang on the famous lawns, lush after a string of damp days.
"I think my game is good on every surface, so I'm not gonna change anything to play on that surface, so I should be fine," said Gavrilova, who reached the last 16 at Melbourne Park, but has since dipped back outside the top 50. "To me Wimbledon is something so special, so much history here."
Gavrilova does not know Wang, but is very familiar with the world No.73's coach, Australian expat Peter McNamara, and what to expect. "She's gonna be tough, she hits pretty flat, and I think a lot of Chinese girls are good on the grass, so it's not gonna be easy."
The drop-off in numbers from 2015 was not quite so extreme in a men's cast that has dipped from 11 (including two wildcards) last year, to seven, headed by seeded pair Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic. Lleyton Hewitt is retired (well, sort-of), Thanasi Kokkinakis still yet to resume after, yes, shoulder surgery, but with his sights on the Rio Olympics, and there is one fewer qualifier (two - Roehampton specialist Luke Saville and Sydney debutant Matt Barton).
The other first-timer is 91st-ranked Jordan Thompson, who meets 14th seed Roberto Bautista-Agut. "I've got my work cut out," Thompson admitted.
Then there's the admirable journeyman John Millman: first-time qualifier and first round winner over 19th seed Tommy Robredo last year; now a direct entry guy and surprise Aussie No.3.
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