BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — World No. 1 and two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka began her Brisbane International singles campaign with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Renata Zarazua of Mexico on Tuesday.

After a bye in the first round, Sabalenka needed just 63 minutes to reach the third round, with form showing a three-pointer at Melbourne Park from January 12 was a strong possibility.

“The first game is always difficult to see where you are with the tennis,” said Sabalenka. “I’m glad I finished the first set and in the second I felt like whatever I was going to do was going to work.”

In the third round she will face Yulia Putintseva, seeded 15th. The Kazakh player beat American Kessler McCartney 6:2, 7:5.

The Sabalenka match was a prelude at Pat Rafter Arena for later men’s matches featuring Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic. Kyrgios played against rising French talent Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, while Djokovic began his singles tournament against Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata.

On Monday, Djokovic and Kyrgios won their first-round doubles match.

In an early men’s singles match on Tuesday, Frances Tiafoe defeated Australian wildcard Adam Walton 7-5 (5), 6-3.

Early Tuesday, Sebastian Korda, the tournament’s No. 5 and world No. 22, withdrew with a lower back injury.

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AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis