INTERNATIONAL: Daniil Medvedev has launched his bid for a maiden Australian Open title on Tuesday with a 6-1 6-4 7-romp over Swiss battler Henri Laaksonen.

U.S. Open champion Medvedev, favourite to win at Melbourne Park in the wake of Novak Djokovic's deportation, was in cruise control for two sets against world number 91 Laaksonen before being dragged into a proper dog-fight in the third set.

Finland-born Laaksonen has produced scintillating tennis to keep in touch with Medvedev in the tiebreak before faltering with a pair of unforced errors that gave the Russian three match points.

Medvedev has sealed the win on the first of them and will play the winner of Nick Kyrgios and Liam Broady for a place in the third round.

Third seed Garbine Muguruza of Spain has struggled to close out the contest but has reached the second round of the Australian Open comfortably enough with a 6-3 6-4 victory over feisty young Frenchwoman Clara Burel on Rod Laver Arena.

The tall Spaniard, who has never lost a first round match in 10 visits to Melbourne Park, came into the net to great effect to go a set and a break up but was broken again when serving for the match.

The 28-year-old broke Burel for a fifth time in the next game to get the job done, however, and moves onto to a contest with another Frenchwoman, Alize Cornet.

Former French Open champion Iga Swiatek overcame a slow start to cruise into the second round with a 6-3 6-0 win over British qualifier Harriet Dart.

After trailing 3-1, the Pole won eleven successive games to clinch the match.

The seventh seed takes on Rebecca Peterson in the second round.