Novak Djokovic made the perfect return to the Australian Open with a 6-3 6-4 6-0 victory over Roberto Carballes Baena in his first Grand Slam match in Melbourne since his controversial deportation last year.
He had already received plenty of support from fans on his return to Australia earlier in January.
German Alexander Zverev claimed his first singles win since tearing several knee ligaments with a five-set 4-6 6-1 5-7 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 victory over Peru’s Juan Pablo Varillas.
Second seed Casper Ruud came through in four sets against Czech player Tomas Machac winning 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 to set up a second round meeting with American Jenson Brooksby, who came from behind to beat Australian Christopher O’Connell 3-6 6-2 6-3 6-2.
Fifth seed Andrey Rublev beat 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem 6-3 6-4 6-2 as the Austrian wildcard Thiem continued his return from injury.
American eighth seed Taylor Fritz required four sets to beat Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili, winning 6-4 6-2 4-6 7-5, while Danish ninth seed Holger Rune defeated Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic 6-2 6-3 6-4.
Spanish 14th seed Pablo Carreno Busta won 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 7-6 (7-3) against Argentine Pedro Cachin, and Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov overcame former semi-finalist Aslan Karatsev of Russia 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 6-2.