Nadal advances to second round at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia — Rafael Nadal didn’t show any side effects from a lack of match practice while beating former top-10 player Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday.

Playing on Rod Laver Arena, Nadal moved well around the court and often seemed impressed with his play, double fist-pumping after winning a point on a lunging backhand volley in the third set.

Nadal said before the tournament that he’d be happy to win one or two rounds at Melbourne Park because of his lack of fitness after a right wrist injury and appendix surgery in November.