Nadal, Osaka through after Djokovic saga at Australian Open
Rafael Nadal opened his Australian Open campaign in storming style Monday as the first Grand Slam of the year finally began after a chaotic build-up dominated by the visa saga engulfing world number one Novak Djokovic.
Defending women's champion Naomi Osaka breezed into the second round but teenager Coco Gauff was an early big-name casualty, the American 17-year-old dumped out in straight sets by China's Wang Qiang, who is ranked outside the top 100.
The only Australian Open champion in the men's draw after nine-time winner Djokovic's sensational deportation, Nadal started his quest to become the first male to win 21 Grand Slams by sweeping aside the 66th-ranked Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.
There was relief from Nadal that they were at last playing tennis -- he said he had grown "quite tired" of talking about his great Serbian rival, for whom he said he still has respect.
"The ideal situation in the world of sport is that the best players are on the court, no?" said Nadal, who next plays Germany's Yannick Hanfmann in the second round.
"Honestly I wish him all the best. I think the situation has been a mess. He's not the only one that did probably the things bad."
Unvaccinated Serbian Djokovic landed in Dubai early on Monday after his humiliating deportation from Australia, his dreams of a record-extending 10th Australian Open title over for this year.
But it was business as usual for Japan's Osaka, who registered her 23rd win in her last 24 matches in the city of Melbourne, with a 6-3, 6-3 win against Colombia's Camila Osorio.
Seeded 13 after a disrupted 2021 season in which she said she had suffered "long bouts of depression", Osaka raced to a 5-0 lead before cruising through in 68 minutes.
"I would say I feel more comfortable in my skin if that makes sense," said the 24-year-old, who won the title at Melbourne Park in 2019 and 2021. She will play American Madison Brengle in the second round.
"I just want to have fun, first of all. I can't expect myself to win every match, but I do expect myself to have fun and challenge myself."
Fourth seed Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, the reigning French Open champion, had little problem in blowing away Germany's Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 6-0 in 67 minutes.
The highest-ranked player to lose in the first round so far as Britain's 12th seed Cameron Norrie, easily beaten by American Sebastian Korda, the son of 1998 Australian Open champion Petr Korda, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4.
Tunisian ninth seed Ons Jabeur did not even make it onto the court.
She withdrew because of injury before her match against Spain's Nuria Parrizas Diaz and was replaced by lucky loser Irina Bara of Romania.
Italian seventh seed Matteo Berrettini, who reached his first Slam final at Wimbledon last year before losing to Djokovic, dropped a set before powering past American Brandon Nakashima 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.
There were also four-set wins for Canadian 14th seed Denis Shapovalov and Polish 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz.
Miomir Kecmanovic, who was originally drawn to meet Djokovic, had a much easier time against "lucky loser" Salvatore Caruso, winning 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 in 1hr 56min.
Germany's Tatjana Maria had the honour of striking the first serve in the tournament on the showpiece Rod Laver Arena before falling to Greece's Maria Sakkari, the fifth seed, 6-4, 7-6 (7/2).
"We all know how hard first rounds can be and that wasn't easy," said the athletic Sakkari.
Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic said she was still feeling the effects of Covid-19 a month after falling ill, as she moved into round two by overcoming Kristina Mladenovic 6-4, 6-3.
"I mean, my pulse was getting very up in the practices," she said.
The night session on Rod Laver Arena is headlined by world number one Ashleigh Barty, who is chasing her first title in her home Grand Slam. The 25-year-old faces Ukrainian qualifier Lesia Tsurenko.
Later third seed and Olympic champion Alexander Zverev plays fellow German Daniel Altmaier.