MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (AP) -- Rafael Nadal has won his first-round match at the Australian Open, overwhelming Christophe Rochus of Belgium 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena.
The top-seeded Spaniard breezed to a dominating win Tuesday over Rochus, often moving the Belgian player from side to side across the court at will with pinpoint drives into the corners.
Nadal will next face Roko Karanusic of Croatia in the second round.
Beaten in last year's Australian Open semifinals by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Nadal rebounded in the next two Grand Slams to beat Roger Federer in the French Open and Wimbledon finals, taking the No. 1 ranking from the Swiss star.
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