Rafael Nadal did his best to erase the memory of his 2016 first-round loss in Melbourne on Tuesday, dominating Florian Mayer 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in just over two hours in Rod Laver Arena. The Spaniard landed 70 per cent of his first serves and ripped 39 winners against the 33-year-old Mayer, who was playing at Melbourne Park for the first time in three years.

Nadal fell to countryman Fernando Verdasco a year ago, the victim of an all-out attack from Verdasco, who hit 90 winners in the win. But Tuesday’s match was never in question for the 30-year-old Mallorca native. Nadal earned a break in each set, including at 4-4 in the third set, and converted his first match point with a forehand winner.

Nadal will next face Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, who advanced to the second round when Russian Mikhail Youzhny retired down 6-3, 3-0. Nadal leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 8-1.

Roger Federer received a huge standing ovation upon his entrance to Rod Laver Arena to play his first tour-level match since 8 July 2016.

But what brings Federer to his feet? Musicals.

“I’m always one of the first guys to give standing ovations because I think it’s really important because these guys do amazing,” Federer said Monday night in Melbourne after his first round win at the Australian Open. “The amount of memorising they have to do, I find that mind-blowing. I’m not very good at remembering stuff like that.”

But Roger certainly proved he’s remembered his way around the tennis court. The four-time champion, who had been sidelined due to a knee injury, opened his campaign at the Australian Open with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Jurgen Melzer. After the victory, he had musicals on his mind.

“I went to see ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ in Perth [and] I met the cast afterwards. I really enjoyed that,” he said. “I saw ‘Hamilton’ and ‘Finding Neverland’ in New York. I liked both of those. They were completely different. ‘Finding Neverland’ was super emotional. We were all crying, all seven people that were there – my daughters, my wife, my mom, everybody. It was a lot of fun.

“I saw ‘Elephant Man’ with Bradley Cooper in London. I just admire that kind of performance. It’s life.”

The 35-year-old’s life in the Melbourne draw continues when he faces American #NextGenATP player Noah Rubin in the second round. No word on whether or not Federer will take in a musical in Melbourne before then.

Roger Federer made a welcome return to the highest level of professional tennis on Monday night at the Australian Open, in his first tour-level match since 8 July 2016.

Federer, who had been sidelined due to a knee injury, opened his campaign over former junior rival and fellow 35-year-old Jurgen Melzer 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in two hours and five minutes.

“I thought my serve was on and off in the beginning, which surprised me a little bit, because in practise it’s been going pretty well,” said Federer. “I was feeling nervous once the match actually started. I was actually fine all day, warming up, in the warm-up five minutes with Jurgen. I felt fine. Then I hit four frames in a row. It was like, ‘Whew, it’s not as easy as I thought it was going to be.

“I’m happy I was made to work today. Actually at the end I’m quite happy how I ended, which is most important… It was great to be out there. I really enjoyed myself, even though it wasn’t so simple.”

He goes on to face World No. 200 Noah Rubin, appearing in his third Grand Slam championship, who edged past fellow American Bjorn Fratangelo 6-7(4), 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in three hours and eight minutes.

Four-time former champion Federer recovered from a 2-4 deficit in the first set and, at one stage, won 13 points in a row. Qualifier Melzer won five games in a row from a 1-3 deficit in the second set, but No. 17 seed Federer was in total control the remainder of the pair’s fifth meeting. The Swiss star hit 46 winners, including 19 aces.

It is Federer’s first appearance outside the Top 10 in the Emirates ATP Rankings at Melbourne Park since 2002 when he ranked No. 12 and his No. 17 seeding is his lowest at a Grand Slam championship since coming in unseeded at 2001 Roland Garros. Pete Sampras was the No. 17 seed when he won his final event, the 2002 US Open.

Stan Wawrinka lived to fight another day on Monday night at the Australian Open.

The fourth seed and 2014 titlist drew upon his big-match experience to come back from a break deficit in the deciding set to edge Martin Klizan 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in three hours and 24 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.

”It was tough one, for sure,” said Wawrinka. “But I’m really happy to get through in five sets. It wasn’t my best tennis today, but I was fighting, trying to stay in the game. I think he was playing well. He didn’t give me too much rhythm. He made me play not my best tennis. I’m happy to get through, that’s the most important thing.”

Wawrinka maintained his record of never having lost in the first round at Melbourne Park after he struck 21 aces past Klizan, who finished with a forehand error to see his losing streak extend to 10 matches. It was their first meeting for almost seven years (2010 Casablanca).

The 31-year-old Wawrinka, who beat Rafael Nadal for the trophy three years ago, goes on to play Steve Johnson, a straight sets winner over Federico Delbonis earlier in the day.

Nick Kyrgios, the No. 14 seed, committed only 17 unforced errors as he cruised past Gastao Elias 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in 84 minutes for a place in the second round for the fourth straight year. He next faces veteran Andreas Seppi. “I think I reserved a lot of energy,” said Kyrgios, who experienced sinus problems. “I was actually really impressed with the way I served, the way I returned.”

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Steve Darcis withstood 19 aces from the racquet of Sam Groth in a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory. The Belgian, who has risen nine spots to No. 71 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, goes on to face Diego Schwartzman, who beat his fellow South American, No. 22 seed Pablo Cuevas, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in 82 minutes.