Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner barrelled ominously into the Australian Open third round as 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka survived an epic to make Grand Slam history.
An erratic Madison Keys did enough to keep her title defence on track and Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka also triumphed on a sunny but cooler Melbourne Park day five.
The tournament fell briefly silent in the evening to remember the 15 people killed at Bondi Beach last month by gunmen who opened fire on a Jewish festival.
Djokovic sent 141st -ranked qualifier Francesco Maestrelli packing in straight sets at Rod Laver Arena.
The Serbian great is on his latest mission to win a record 25th Grand Slam title and dismissed the Italian 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Djokovic is well known for his sometimes unusual preparations, which include hugging a Brazilian fig tree in Melbourne’s botanical gardens.
“That is my oldest friend here in Melbourne,” said the 38-year-old former world number one, who has won 10 Australian Open titles, more than anyone in history.
“He has been there to heal my wounds and give me company. We have a friendship going over 20 years.”
Two-time reigning champion Sinner wasted no time in powering on with a demolition of home player James Duckworth, with the Italian second seed romping to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory in just one hour and 49 minutes.
Sinner plays big-serving Eliot Spizzirri, the 85th -ranked American, next as he pursues a Melbourne Park hat-trick.
Exhausted warhorse Wawrinka battled to a marathon five-set win in his Australian Open farewell.
He was joined in the next round by another experienced campaigner in the 37-year-old Marin Cilic, who defeated Denis Shapovalov in straight sets.
In Melbourne as a wildcard, Wawrinka pulled heroically through in four hours and 33 minutes against French qualifier Arthur Gea.
He won 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10⁄3) to become the first player aged 40 or over to reach the men’s third round at a Slam sinc