Perez and Australian partner Olivia Tjandramulia eventually conceded in straight sets against higher-ranked Japanese opponents Eri Hozumi and Miyu Kato, losing both tie-breakers 7-3, to fall 7-6, 7-6.

The Aussies had led 3-1 trying to level the match at a set each, but lost the next six tie-break points.

Perez had also served for the second set at 5-4. In a see-sawing battle, Kato and Hozumi had marched to a 3-0 lead, only for Perez and Tjandramulia to reel off five of the next six games.

“It's always a great time of the year and I love being able to play back here in Australia. It’s always great playing in front of a home crowd,’’ she earlier this week.

“Olivia [Tjandramulia] and I played in tournaments together in the juniors but this is our first time playing doubles together.”

Perez and Tjandramulia had another chance at 5-4 in the first, but could not find the crucial service break.

 Kato is 54^th on the international doubles rankings and Hozumi 51st, well above Perez, standing at 405.

The 21-year-old had an outstanding 2016 campaign on the US college circuit, while studying at the University of Athens in Georgia, climbing to No.3 in the ITA division one singles rankings. The left-hander also won a singles tournament in Europe and four doubles events, before securing a spot in the singles’ main draw of the US Open. She was beaten by Zhang Shuai 6-1, 6-1 at Flushing Meadows.

Having overcome an elbow injury, Perez has her eye on a full-time professional career on the tour, having told the Mercury she could make the decision as early as May. Perez has already taken on grand slam playing talent this year, having been beaten by Romania’s Ana Bogdan 6-2, 7-6 in the Australian Open qualifying rounds and a three-set 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 defeat against Naomi Broady in Sydney.

The British Broady played a thrilling three-set match before going down to Aussie Daria Gavrilova on Tuesday night, while Bogdan made a first-round exit against Russia’s Elena Vesnina.

Perez followed Thirroul’s Blake Mott to the exit.

Mott fought hard against French tour veteran Richard Gasquet, before bowing out in straight sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

The 20-year-old finished last year ranked 287 in the world, before moving his way through the Australian Open qualifying rounds.

Mott also broke through for his first Challenger singles title at Launceston last year.