Australian Open: Rafael Nadal back to his battling best

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic

Spaniard Rafael Nadal celebrates a point against Germany's Florian Mayer during the first round encounter on Dayâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088Two of the Australian Open yesterday. Nadal won 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Pic/AFP

Melbourne: Rafael Nadal says he is driven to restore his slumping ranking after powering past Germany's Florian Mayer into the second round of the Australian Open yesterday. The long-time World No. 1 looked back to his healthy best after an injury-riddled 2016 as he tossed the 49th-ranked Mayer 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in just over two hours on Rod Laver Arena.

Nadal will face Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the second round. The 14-time Grand Slam champion is irked to be ranked at nine after occupying a total of 141 weeks at World No. 1 during his storied playing career. Now the 30-year-old is back to full fitness after recovering from a left wrist injury, which dogged him during last year's French Open and forced him to miss Wimbledon and the ATP Finals in a frustrating second half of last season.

Poor ranking affecting Rafa
Nadal said his current ranking affected his confidence. "Oh, yes, it makes a difference. It's much better be number one than number nine. There's no question about it," he said. "But I am number nine today. That is just the real thing. Today I'm the ninth player of the world. I am going to fight to not be worse, and I going to fight to be again better. I feel that if I am playing well and I am healthy, I think I can be much better," Nadal added.

Djoko beats Verdasco
Novak Djokovic doused big-hitting Spaniard Fernando Verdasco to win the opening match. Djokovic prevailed 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 to progress to a second-round encounter with Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.

"I'm very pleased with the first round, considering I had one of the toughest draws," Djokovic said. "I think that I could have drawn an easier player. I mean, he's a quality player, a former top 10. He's a big match player," Djokovic added.