Nadal a straight-sets winner at Australian Open

Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts during their men’s singles first round match against Dominican Republic’s Victor Estrella Burgos on day one of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 15, 2018. (AFP)

MELBOURNE: Top-seeded Rafael Nadal didn’t show any side effects from a right knee injury that sidelined him at the end of last season, beating Victor Estrella Burgos 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in a first-round match.
Nadal, who won the French Open and US Open last year, lost in last year’s final here to Roger Federer.
The Spanish lefthander has only lost in the first round at two Grand Slam singles tournaments — to Steve Darcis at Wimbledon in 2013, and to Fernando Verdasco in Melbourne in 2016.
Nadal will play Leonardo Mayer in the second round on Wednesday. Mayer beat Nicolas Jarry 6-2, 7-6 (1), 6-3 earlier Monday.