Rafael Nadal looked fit and healthy as he powered his way into the second round of the Australian Open with a dominant straight sets win over Germany's Florian Mayer on Tuesday.

The ninth-seed in Melbourne looked back to his best after an injury-disrupted 2016 as he beat the 49th-ranked Mayer 6-3 6-4 6-4 in just over two hours on Rod Laver Arena.

Nadal, who is is bidding to win his second Melbourne title after beating Roger Federer for the 2009 crown, took the opening set on his fifth set point with an ace and broke the German to take the second set.

He broke Mayer's service in the ninth game of the final set with a 25th forehand winner and served out for victory in brutal afternoon heat at Melbourne Park.