Rafael Nadal tops Laslo Djere to kick off Australian Open title chase

World no. 2 Rafael Nadal is through to the second round at the Australian Open, ousting Laslo Djere 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 in an hour and 52 minutes.

The 20-time Major champion isn't at his best at the moment, struggling with a back injury but hoping to improve his health in the rest of the tournament. Still, he played well today, outside a couple of loose games, getting broken once and earning six breaks to control the scoreboard. Nadal grabbed an early break in game two after forcing a rival's error and held at 15 to open up a 3-0 lead.

The Spaniard produced another break in game six with a forehand return winner that sent him 5-1 in front in under 25 minutes. The 2009 champion lost serve while serving for the set, fixing the error two games later for 6-3 after winning four straight points. Rafa forged the advantage in set number two and served for it at 5-4, facing three break points and erasing them all to avoid a scare and move two sets to love in front.

Laslo hit a double fault in the third set's first game to experience a break and fell 4-1 down when Nadal grabbed another break in game five. Rafa saved a break chance in the sixth game with a stellar forehand down the line winner and moved over the top with another break in game seven.

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