Tennis legend Rafael Nadal beat Briton's Jack Draper with a four-set victory to start his title defence strongly in the first round of the Australian Open in Rod Laver Arena on Monday.
In order to advance into the second round of the year's first Slam for the 17th time, the Spaniard defeated Jack Draper, a 21-year-old debutant, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion had a difficult challenge in the form of the quickly rising Draper, 21.
The 38th-ranked Briton was defeated at Rod Laver Arena by top seed Nadal 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 after he stumbled in the second set.
"If we put [today’s match] in the perspective of all that I went through in the past six months, [it was] a very positive start," the Spaniard said.
"I played against one of the toughest opponents possible in the first round, being seeded. He is young, he has the power and I think he has a great future in front [of him]. We are going to see him playing a lot of years here, having very good results."
Nadal is attempting to win his third Australian Open title as he competes for a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam singles crown.
He will play Mackenzie McDonald in the second round.
'Devastated'
Meanwhile, Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios announced a shocking and heartbreaking exit from the event due to an injury without playing.
"I'm devastated, obviously," said Kyrgios. "I've had some great tournaments here, winning the doubles last year and playing the tennis of my life probably going into this event. I'm just exhausted from everything, and (it's) obviously pretty brutal."
In the women's draw, in-form Jessica Pegula and teenage prodigy Coco Gauff were both emphatic winners on the first day of the opening Grand Slam of the year.
Pegula made her intentions clear by thrashing Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, who was ranked 161st, 6-0, 6-1, at Margaret Court Arena.
Gauff, a fellow American, was equally explosive as she beat Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-1, 6-4 on the nearby Rod Laver Arena to advance quickly to the second round.
Gauff entered Melbourne with confidence after claiming her third WTA crown at the Auckland Classic, and Pegula gained momentum after defeating world number one Iga Swiatek at the United Cup.
Gauff will now play former US Open winner Emma Raducanu, who defeated Tamara Korpatsch 6-3, 6-2 just 10 days after the Briton sobbed her way out of the Auckland tournament due to an ankle injury.