Top seed Novak Djokovic started his bid for a record seventh Australian Open title with a straight-set win over American qualifier Mitchell Krueger.
The 31-year-old Serb, chasing a 15th Grand Slam title and third in a row, won 6-3 6-2 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.
Krueger broke Djokovic in the third game but the world number one dominated from there to seal victory in two hours and three minutes.
He will face French wildcard Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round.
Djokovic's victory was in stark contrast to the way he lost a year ago to South Korea's Chung Hyeon in the last 16.
He struggled with an elbow injury which would later require surgery and endured a string of poor results before hitting top form again to win Wimbledon and the US Open and regain the world number one ranking.
"It feels great to be healthy and back on this court again," said Djokovic, who was appearing in his 300th Grand Slam match.
"Twelve months ago it was quite a different sensation on the court with the elbow injury. Twelve months forward, obviously things are quite different."
Tsonga was on the losing side in the 2008 Australian Open final as Djokovic won his first of 14 Grand Slams.
Former world number four Tsonga missed seven months of 2018 after knee surgery and needed a wildcard to get into the tournament after his ranking dropped outside the top 200.
But the 33-year-old will be a dangerous opponent, having reached the semi-finals in his comeback tournament in Brisbane and beaten Martin Klizan of Slovakia in straight sets in the first round in Melbourne.
"It's funny, 11 years after our first Grand Slam final here - it feels like a lot has happened for both of us," Djokovic added.
Latest Stories
-
UEFA International Tournament: Ernest Ofori scores for Black Starlets in defeat to Russia
53 seconds -
Cocoa price surge linked to production decline -COCOBOD CEO
6 mins -
Atarah Praise returns on May 19 at Adenta Barrier
7 mins -
World Robotics Championship: 18 pre-tertiary students poised to win medals for Ghana at global competition
11 mins -
Drowned widow was scammed out of $1.5m on dating app hoax, left note about secret ‘double life’
34 mins -
ECG workers threaten to disconnect power from Ashanti Regional Minister’s home
39 mins -
Brain tumour shatters 20-year-old’s dream of becoming a doctor
46 mins -
ICDP Ghana introduces portable ultrasound machines in rural communities
56 mins -
Seven killed in sleep after Ethiopia building collapses
59 mins -
Fitch affirms ETI at B-; Outlook stable
2 hours -
Pictures: Bawumia meets Pope Francis
2 hours -
Former Bibiani GoldStars midfielder Frank Adjei Jr continues fine form in Swedish League
2 hours -
J.B. Dankwah Adu’s murder: Court orders Daniel Asiedu to open his defence
2 hours -
Marrakech 2024: Five para-athletes to represent Ghana in WPA Grand Prix in Morocco
3 hours -
U.S Senate approves bill to ban TikTok
3 hours