Fourteen-time major champion Rafael Nadal has handed German journeyman Florian Mayer a straight-sets defeat in the opening round of the Australian Open.
The ninth-seeded Spaniard won 6-3 6-4 6-4 in a match lasting just over two hours.
Nadal ended his 2016 campaign in mid-October due to a painful left wrist injury.
Now fully recovered, he returned to action at the Brisbane International earlier this month where he bowed out in the quarter-finals to world No.3 Milos Raonic.
This was the seventh straight time that the 33-year-old Mayer had been beaten in the opening round of a grand slam event.
Nadal lost at the same stage at Melbourne Park last year to countryman Fernando Verdasco, but he was never seriously troubled on Tuesday.
“Today was a good first round for me,” said the 30-year-old Nadal.
“Florian is not the typical player to play.
“For me it is a great victory and to now have the chance to win more matches in Melbourne.”
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