Novak Djokovic sent 141st-ranked qualifier Francesco Maestrelli packing in straight sets to ease into the Australian Open third round on Thursday – with a little help from his favourite tree.
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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 faces 75th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands next.
The former world No 1, who won his first match by the same comprehensive scoreline, said: "Similar feeling on the court of generally positive."
The fourth seed did not play a warm-up tournament and said his longer off-season was paying off.
"I'm really happy I'm able to play this way, considering the lack of competitive matches for more than two months," the 38-year-old said.
"It's all been positive so far, positive signs."
In sunny, but noticeably cooler temperatures than recent days at Melbourne Park, Djokovic appeared determined to get the job done as fast as possible.
Playing in the early afternoon on Rod Laver Arena, rather than his usual evening slot, Djokovic raced into a 5-2 lead.
The Italian doggedly held serve despite facing multiple set points, but it was only delaying the inevitable as Djokovic sealed the opening set in 47 minutes.
Djokovic, who has been tied with Margaret Court on 24 major titles since winning the US Open in 2023, was not quite as devastating as when winning his first-round match by the same scoreline.
But he still had far too much for the outclassed 23-year-old.
Djokovic broke Maestrelli, who was making his Grand Slam debut, to start the second set and cantered into the third round.
Djokovic is well known for his sometimes unusual preparations, which include hugging a Brazilian fig tree in the nearby botanical gardens.
"That is my oldest friend here in Melbourne," said Djokovic, who has won 10 Australian Open titles, more than anyone in history.
"He has been there to heal my wounds and give me company.
"It's a beautiful connection, nature is such a powerful ally.
"We have a friendship going over 20 years."
EXHAUSTED WAWRINKA BATTLES ON IN MELBOURNE FAREWELL AFTER FIVE-SET EPIC
Exhausted 40-year-old Swiss warhorse Stan Wawrinka battled to an epic five-set win to scrape into the third round on Thursday in his Australian Open farewell.
In Melbourne as a wildcard, Wawrinka pulled heroically through in four hours and 33 minutes against French qualifier Arthur Gea.
Now ranked 139, 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 since Ken Rosewall at the Australian Open in 1978.
The former Australian Open champion is playing his last season before retiring and faces the American ninth seed Taylor Fritz or Vit Kopriva of the Czech Republic next.
"Exhausted. I am trying to last as long as possible on my last Australian Open," Wawrinka said in his on-court interview.
Addressing the crowd, he said: "You gave me so much energy, I am not young anymore so need extra energy from you.
"It is an amazing feeling. It was a long match. I don't know how I am going to recover," he added.
Wawrinka, who made his debut at Melbourne Park in 2006, fell a set down but fought back and rattled off an ace to win the second set.
Gea, who at 21 is nearly half Wawrinka's age, hit back to win the third set and put the veteran on the back foot once again.
Despite his advanced years the three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka somehow found some reserves of energy as the sun went down.
He broke to take the fourth set by the scruff of the neck and they went to a deciding fifth.
In front of a frenzied crowd, Wawrinka broke to start the final set and Gea had both knees strapped as an enthralling match went down to the wire.
There was nothing in it as the battling duo slugged it out to a thrilling finale.
It was the 49th five-set match of Wawrinka's career at Grand Slam events, surpassing Roger Federer for the most of any player in the Open Era.
Wawrinka won the first of his majors at Melbourne in 2014, a season during which he peaked at world No 3.
Along with that title, he won the French Open a year later and the US Open in 2016.
The triumphs all came at a time when Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were dominating men's tennis.
Wawrinka has 16 career ATP titles although the last came in Geneva in 2017.
He won Olympic gold in doubles alongside Federer at Beijing in 2008.