Novak Djokovic sent 141st-ranked qualifier Francesco Maestrelli packing in straight sets to ease into the Australian Open third round on Thursday -- with a little help from his favourite tree.

Six-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz was put through his paces by German journeyman Yannick Hanfmann on Wednesday before swatting him aside to book his place in the Australian Open third round.

The world number one saw off the awkward Bai 6-3, 6-1, having threatened at one stage to complete the job in even more express fashion.

Double defending champion Jannik Sinner advanced to the second round of the Australian Open on Tuesday in just over an hour of tennis after his French opponent Hugo Gaston retired upon losing the first two sets 6-2 6-1.

The American ninth seed was a bundle of nerves on Rod Laver Arena, but calmed down to clinch a 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 win over Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova.

Iga Swiatek survived a fright Monday before battling past Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue to launch her bid for a career Grand Slam in unconvincing fashion at the Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic embarked on his latest quest to win a record 25th Grand Slam by easing to an ominous straight-sets victory Monday at the Australian Open.

The world's top players wrote to the Grand Slams calling for significant improvements in prize money in April last year.

Gauff started her quest for a maiden Australian Open title with a 6-2 6-3 win over Kamilla Rakhimova.

Venus Williams fell at the first hurdle but said she was proud of herself after making history as the oldest woman to ever play at the Australian Open on Sunday.

Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his latest bid for a career Grand Slam by dismantling unseeded Australian Adam Walton 6-3 7-6(2) 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open on Sunday, as the world number one showcased the power and precision befitting a player chasing history.

Aryna Sabalenka warned she was only going to get better as the top seed recovered from a slow start to launch her Australian Open with a straight-sets win on Sunday.

Play was halted during an Australian Open first-round match Sunday when a ball girl fainted as temperatures soared, with players Zeynep Sonmez and Ekaterina Alexandrova rushing to help her.

Alexander Zverev overcame a shaky start before reaching the second round on Sunday's first day of the Australian Open, as top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka get set to enter the fray.

Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova withdrew from the Australian Open on Sunday after the Czech player said she was dealing with a shoulder injury.

Alcaraz starts his bid for a career Grand Slam, with the Australian Open the only title missing from his collection.

Novak Djokovic said Saturday he likes his chances at the Australian Open despite "missing a bit of juice" in the legs, declaring he can still beat anyone on his day.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams said Saturday she was "up for the challenge" as she gets set to become the oldest woman to play at the Australian Open at age 45.

The Australian Open will offer a record A$111.5 million ($74.73 million) in prize money this year and while players welcomed the increase, top names like Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka said the push for a bigger payout must continue across the Grand Slams.

The 24-year-old Italian arrived at Melbourne Park last year under intense pressure, not knowing his fate after a drugs scandal.