After the top players got off to an impressive start on Monday, it was time for some other elite players to kick-start their proceedings on Day 2. Top seed Novak Djokovic and defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka were among the early winners on Tuesday…

Novak Djokovic d. Aljaz Bedene (6-3, 6-2, 6-4)

World No.1 Novak Djokovic had a routine day in the office, making short work of in-form Slovenian Aljaz Bedene in straight sets at the Rod Laver Arena.

Besides emerging unbroken in the match, the top-seeded Serb won a commendable 84 per cent of his first-serve points and scored as many as 30 winners in the battle that lasted for one hour and 49 minutes.

Despite his loss, Bedene – the runner-up at last fortnight’s Chennai Open in India – impressed Djokovic with his serve. “The match could have gone a different way in the first set,” he said. “He did surprise me. I had a difficult time to read his serve.”

Up next, Djokovic is slated to cross the swords with Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov in the second round.

Stanislas Wawrinka d. Marsel Ilhan (6-1, 6-4, 6-2)

World No. 4 Stanislas Wawrinka opened his title-defense in style, as he kept the upset bug at bay to score a straight-set triumph over Marsel Ilhan at the Rod Laver Arena.

The Swiss star won 82 per cent of his first-serve points against 60 per cent of his little-known Turkish adversary in the encounter that went on for just 89 minutes.

Commenting on his victory, Wawrinka said: “I’m happy to start again. The last time I was here was in an empty stadium with the trophy for a picture.”

Moving on, Wawrinka is scheduled to lock horns with Marius Copil of Romania in the next round of the tournament.

Nishikori, Raonic, Ferrer Advance

5^th seed Kei Nishikori also made a strong statement, following his ruthless 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 win over Spain’s Nicolas Almagro at the Margaret Court Arena to set up second-round date with Croatian journeyman Ivan Dodig.

9^th-seeded David Ferrer rallied from a one-set deficit to clinch a 6-7, 6-2, 6-0, 6-3 triumph over 65^th-ranked Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci, and next faces Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky next.

8^th seed Milos Raonic of Canada also made a swift sail to the second round, defeating Illya Marchenko 7-6, 7-6, 6-3 at the Hisense Arena.

(Image: www.independent.co.uk)