Nadal lays down marker in Melbourne with Burgos victory

World number one Rafael Nadal cruised into round two of the Australian Open with a 6-1 6-1 6-1 battering of Victor Estrella Burgos.

Top seed Nadal was back on Rod Laver Arena for the first time since his epic five-set defeat to Roger Federer 12 months ago in a final for the ages.

And the Spaniard, the 2009 champion in Melbourne, made a fine start in his bid to go one better this time around, wrapping up a dominant win in just over an hour and a half.

Nadal wasted no time in seizing control of Monday's clash at Melbourne Park as Burgos struggled to live with his array of forehands from beyond the baseline.

A string of cross-court winners gave Nadal – dressed in a sleeveless top and shocking pink shorts – a 4-0 lead after 12 minutes.

A sumptuous drop shot brought him the first set after 23 minutes and the Nadal juggernaut continued to steamroll its way past his Dominican opponent.

It was not just the trademark booming forehands that brought Nadal joy, his power enabling him to show exquisite touch around the net as Burgos covered every inch of Rod Laver Arena.

There was brief joy for Burgos as he managed to break Nadal late in the second set, two well-placed backhands followed by a winning volley brought huge celebrations from the world number 79.

Nadal quickly put him back in his place, though, and, after securing a two-set advantage, set about confirming his place in round two.

He unleashed two outrageous forehand winners in the fourth game of the third set that Burgos could get nowhere near, a common theme throughout the encounter.

Burgos ensured he did not suffer a bagel in any set with a gutsy hold but it only delayed Nadal's progression by a couple of minutes.