Djokovic fires warning after easy win

MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic warned his rivals he will only get better after making a commanding start to his quest for a hat-trick of Australian Open titles on Monday.

The Serbian world number one was in imperious form as he tossed aside Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 in just 1hr 42min on Rod Laver Arena to waltz into the second round of the year's first Grand Slam event.

Djokovic is bidding to become the first player in the Open era to win three consecutive Australian Opens, and he brushed aside the 60th-ranked Mathieu for his 15th straight match win in Melbourne.

The top seed sent out a clear message that he has the appetite to go after his fourth Australian crown, and his sixth major title overall, at the venue where he broke through for his first Grand Slam win in 2008.

The Serb did not drop serve and broke the Frenchman's service four times in a masterful performance ahead of his next round encounter with American Ryan Harrison.

Djokovic, who is looking to bounce back from his US Open final defeat to Andy Murray, is drawn to face the third-seeded Scot in the final.

Djokovic needed a record 5hr 53min to overcome Rafael Nadal in last year's five-set epic Australian Open final, but Nadal is not in Melbourne this time as he recovers from a virus.

Elsewhere, Czech fifth seed and two-time quarter-finalist Tomas Berdych accounted for American Michael Russell 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 and Spanish 10th seed Nicolas Almagro needed five sets and 3hr 10min to douse American qualifier Steve Johnson.