Grand Slam winners Juan Martin Del Potro and Novak Djokovic have warmed up for next week's Australian Open with comprehensive opening victories at the Kooyong Classic.
Del Potro, winner of the US Open title four months ago against Roger Federer, was on court for the first time since losing November's season-ending final in London to Nikolay Davydenko, emerging with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Ivan Ljubicic.
The veteran Croatian was drafted into the eight-man tournament when world No 1 Federer declined the place he had been offered.
"I feel good with my tennis, I feel confident," said 21-year-old Del Potro. "Of course, to beat Roger in the (US Open) final gave to me a lot of motivation and confidence to keep trying, keep working.
"When I go to the court with Roger, Rafa, I don't feel too much different. That's important for the career for the future, and of course if I want to fight for the number one ranking."
Del Potro broke Ljubicic twice in the opening set and kept up the pressure to sweep to victory.
After a two-day heat wave, Melbourne temperatures had dropped considerably, with overcast skies and wind.
"The weather conditions were tough, and it was windy," said Del Potro. "I served well and that's important for this kind of match, this kind of surface.
"It's a good victory for the beginning of the season."
2008 Australian Open champion Djokovic, the world No 3 behind Federer and Rafael Nadal, needed less than an hour to defeat Tommy Haas 6-2, 6-3, after two losses to the 31-year-old German in 2009.
Djokovic said: "I got used to playing good tennis on Australian soil, I'm always happy to come back, I have a lot of support.
"Heat is not one of my allies, that's for sure. But I definitely love playing here so I'm very excited about the tournament."
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