Nadal cruises at Aussie

MELBOURNE, Australia – Rafael Nadal didn’t give the impression he was lacking any confidence as he raced through the first round of the Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win Monday over Russian veteran Mikhail Youzhny.

Coming back from a right wrist injury and an appendix operation that sidelined him late last season, and coming off a rare first-round loss in a tune-up event in Doha, the 14-time major winner said he had concerns about his fitness and form coming into the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.

He didn’t show it, hitting 37 winners, breaking Youzhny twice in each set, holding his own serve comfortably and fending off the only break-point chance he faced.

No. 5 Ana Ivanovic struggled with her serve and lost 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 to Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka. It was Ivanovic’s earliest exit from a major since 2011.