Melbourne: Top seed Rafael Nadal ruthlessly brushed aside Victor Estrella Burgos to power into the second round of the Australian Open yesterday.
The world No.1, a beaten finalist to Roger Federer in Melbourne last year, clinically took apart the 81st-ranked Dominican to forge a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 win in 94 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
He next plays Leonardo Mayer of Argentina.
The Spaniard left nothing to chance with eight service breaks and 28 winners in a complete first-up performance, dispelling fears over any knee trouble.
Nadal, 31, wore no strapping on his knee, appeared to move freely and combined his trademark power game from the back of the court.
It took his Australian Open record to 52-11 as he chases his second Melbourne Park title after beating Federer in the 2009 final.
Nadal, who is gunning for a 17th major title, was hampered by a knee injury at the tail-end of the 2017 season.
It forced him to skip the lead-up Brisbane International this month, and he only had a one-match workout at the exhibition Kooyong Classic in Melbourne ahead of the Open.
Nadal needs to reach the quarter-finals to be certain of retaining his world number one ranking, with Federer breathing down his neck.
Nadal only conceded three games in the match and had few problems with Estrella Burgos, who has a modest 6-15 record at Grand Slams.
Jack Sock completed a bleak opening day for the American contingent at the Australian Open when he was knocked out by Japan’s Yuichi Sugita on Monday.
The eighth seed tumbled out of the tournament on the end of a 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-3 loss in two-and-a-half hours to the 41st-ranked Sugita.
Another American, John Isner, was toppled by Australian Matthew Ebden. The 16th seed, playing in his 100th Grand Slam match, bowed out 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in just over two hours on Margaret Court Arena.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Kyle Edmund eliminated US Open finalist Kevin Anderson in his biggest win at a Grand Slam.
The 49th-ranked Edmund toughed out a 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win in almost four hours.
It reversed his loss to the 11th seeded Anderson over five sets in the third round at last year’s French Open.
Edmund’s previous best result at a Slam was his defeat of No.15 Richard Gasquet in the first round at the 2016 US Open.
Third seed Grigor Dimitrov looked every inch the potential grand slam champion as he schooled qualifier Dennis Novak 6-3 6-2 6-1 to reach the second round.
The Bulgarian third seed, a semi-finalist at Melbourne Park last year, barely got out of first gear as he displayed his considerable range of skills to oust his Austrian opponent in just 98 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
Australia’s big hope Nick Kyrgios stormed into the second round of the Australian Open on Monday, collecting a code violation along the way.
The volatile 17th seed was on autopilot throughout as he disposed of Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in 87 minutes.
He played a flawless opening set but that didn’t stop him from receiving a code violation early in the match.
The Australian was serving for a 4-1 lead when he told a member of the crowd to keep quiet during his service motion in colourful language that did not go down well with the chair umpire.
Kyrgios and the umpire exchanged words during the changeover after the Australian had taken the opening set for the loss of one game in just 28 minutes.