Federer, Nadal enjoy winning start

Roger Federer strolled into the second round of the Australian Open with a clinical 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 rout of Taiwan’s Lu Yen Hsun under the lights of Rod Laver Arena.

In ominous form after winning the Brisbane International in the leadup, the 33-year-old Swiss was impenetrable on serve and charged around the court like a teenager to preserve his unbeaten record in the first round at Melbourne Park in his 16th appearance.

Earlier, Rafa Nadal enjoyed a welcome dose of confidence in dismantling Russian veteran Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the second round.

Undercooked and on the comeback trail after a long lay-off from injury and illness, the third-seeded Spaniard needed only a handful of games at Rod Laver Arena before clicking into grand slam gear against the 32-year-old former top 10 player.

Sixth-seed Andy Murray overcame some frustrating moments in the third set to advance to the second round with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 victory over India’s Yuki Bhambri.

The 27-year-old Briton had looked comfortable in the first two sets against the qualifier, though he did jar his right knee in the first game of the second set and was flexing it throughout.

Bhambri, who is ranked 317th in the world and was making his grand slam main draw debut, had taken a 4-1 lead in the third set with Murray chastising himself for his poor court movement before he stormed back.

Other results (selected):

23-Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) beat Ruben Bemelmans (Belgium) 6-4 6-2 6-4

Viktor Troicki (Serbia) beat Jiri Vesely (Czech Republic) 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-3

28-Lukas Rosol (Czech Republic) beat Kenny De Schepper (France) 4-6 6-2 6-7(4) 6-3 6-4

Bernard Tomic (Australia) beat Tobias Kamke (Germany) 7-5 6-7(1) 6-3 6-2

26-Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) beat John Millman (Australia) 6-3 6-3 6-2

Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) beat Teymuraz Gabashvili (Russia) 6-2 6-7(5) 3-6 6-4 6-4

7-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat Alejandro Falla (Colombia) 6-3 7-6(1) 6-3

24-Richard Gasquet (France) beat Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) 6-1 6-3 6-1

Andreas Seppi (Italy) beat Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) 5-7 6-3 2-6 6-1 6-4

10-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat Dustin Brown (Germany) 6-2 6-3 6-2