Nadal sails through to second round despite worries over back problem

Rafael Nadal allayed fears over a back problem with a straightforward victory against Laslo Djere in the first round of the Australian Open.

For the most part he was untroubled during a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 success against Serbia's Djere, He said: "It has been a tough 15 days for me because I had some issues with the back so I needed to survive today and that's what I did.

"I just tried to be focused all the time, tried to get through. I think I did a good job today.

Straight sets, that's what I needed. Let's go day by day. Today I was able to find a way to be through. It was not ideal preparation for me but I'm still alive. That's the main thing."

Nadal practised with his 17-year-old compatriot Carlos Alcaraz over the weekend and the teenager secured his first grand slam victory with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 success against Botic Van De Zandschulp. Alcaraz is the youngest man to win a slam match for seven years.

Fifth seed and former semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas enjoyed an easier-thanexpected route to second round as he brushed aside French veteran Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-2, 6-1. Daniil Medvedev extended his winning streak to 15 matches with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Vasek Pospisil while seventh seed Andrey Rublev defeated Yannick Hanfmann 6-3 6-3 6-4.

There were a couple of notable upsets, with Moldova's Radu Albot knocking out 12th seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-7 (1), 6-0, 6-4, 7-6 (5) while 13th seed David Goffin's poor run continued with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6,) 6-3 defeat by Australia's Alexei Popyrin.