Top seed Novak Djokovic took the first step along the path that many expect will lead to his fifth Australian Open title with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Slovenian qualifier Aljaz Bedene.
Djokovic, the favourite to win the season opening grand slam after a superb second half of 2014, barely raised a sweat in his victory over the 25-year-old Bedene, who received courtside medical treatment early in the third set.
The 27-year-old had little trouble against Bedene, who lost the Chennai Open final last week to Stanislas Wawrinka, winning the match in 109 minutes.
