WATCH | Australian Open: Third seed Grigor Dimitrov schools Novak to storm into Rd 2

Grigor Dimitrov looked every inch the potential Grand Slam champion as he schooled qualifier Dennis Novak 6-3 6-2 6-1 to reach the second round of the Australian Open on Monday.

The Bulgarian third seed, a semi-finalist at Melbourne Park last year, barely got out of first gear as he displayed his considerable range of skills to oust his Austrian opponent in just 98 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

The 26-year-old, who finished last season with the biggest win of his career at the ATP Tour finals, hit 21 winners and toyed with his outclassed opponent at times. The world number three sealed victory on his second match point when Novak netted a backhand and will next face another qualifier in either American Mackenzie McDonald or Swede Elias Ymer.

“I just tried to be compact, focused, really use every opportunity I had and save some energy,” Dimitrov said in a courtside interview.

Dimitrov’s London triumph and his career high seeding have brought him to Melbourne Park as one of favourites to land the year’s first Grand Slam. Beaten in a five-set thriller by Rafael Nadal in the semis at last year’s Australian Open, Dimitrov clearly believes he is embarking on another long campaign in …read more