Top seed Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday, his form and fitness in sharp contrast to Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic defeated unseeded Russian Alex Kuznetsov 6-0 6-1 6-4 in one hour and 24 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
It came a day after ill third seed Nadal almost exited the tournament on the same court, taking five sets to conquer American qualifier Tim Smyczek.
"Definitely was not expected to see him playing four and a half hours against Smyczek," said Djokovic, himself bothered by a flu and stomach bug in the lead-up to the event.
"People expect him and top players to dominate most of the matches that they play on, especially in the opening rounds of a grand slam.
"People need to realise that other players are playing as well as the top players.
"If you have a fight like they had last night, you just have to congratulate the better player."
Djokovic had no such concerns, extending a stellar run of starts at Melbourne Park.
Since 2007, Djokovic has dropped just two sets in his first and second round matches at the Australian Open.
"There is not one reason," the world No.1 said, turning his attention to a meeting with Spanish 31st seed Fernando Verdasco.
"Even though last two years the courts have played faster, significantly faster than they were before, still I do enjoy being here in Australia."
Defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka needed two tiebreaks and over two hours to dismiss world No.194 Marius Copil.
Wawrinka was expected to have a brief hit-out against the Belgian qualifier, but had to call on all of his class in the 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 victory on Margaret Court Arena.
The Swiss fourth seed also watched Nadal struggle, but warned pundits not to read too much into it.
"If you get through the first week, he's going to be really, really dangerous to win the title," Wawrinka said.
Fifth seed Kei Nishikori knuckled down after dropping his first set of the Open, defeating Croatian Ivan Dodig 4-6 7-5 6-2 7-6 (7-0) on Hisense Arena in a match that lasted almost three hours.
Nishikori next faces American Steve Johnson, who posted an upset win over Colombian 30th seed Santiago Giraldo in straight sets.
Nishikori was twice broken in the opening set, but world No.86 Dodig couldn't keep pace in searing heat.
The weather wasn't quite as exacting as last year, but it claimed a victim in Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.
Mannarino was up two sets to one when he retired due to heat exhaustion against No.12 seed Feliciano Lopez.
In other notable results, ninth seed David Ferrer and 19th seed John Isner both progressed in four sets.
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