(BSS/AFP) - Erratic title contender Coco Gauff and three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev reached the Australian Open second round Monday ahead of a defiant Novak Djokovic launching his latest bid to win a record 25th Grand Slam crown.

A bumper day two at the season-opening Grand Slam also sees six-time major winner Iga Swiatek, home hope Alex de Minaur and fourth seed Amanda Anisimova enter the fray.

But the tournament is over for seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime who retired from his opening match with cramp.

Gauff came through against Uzbekistan`s Kamilla Rakhimova on centre court 6-2, 6-3, but was less than convincing, with seven double faults and 31 unforced errors.

"I tried not to put too much pressure on myself," she said. "I am only satisfied if I win, but I am proud of myself regardless of how I get on."

Her reward is a clash next with Venus Williams` conqueror Olga Danilovic.

Gauff last year beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open for her second major crown, but her best performance on the Melbourne hardcourts was a semi-final in 2024.

While she progressed, 2020 winner Sofia Kenin crashed out 6-3, 6-2 to fellow American Peyton Stearns as temperatures soared past 30C and fans again faced long queues to get into Melbourne Park.

Canada`s Auger-Aliassime was another casualty, calling for the trainer while down 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Portugal`s Nuno Borges and pulling out.

"I want to be on the court competing with my opponent," said Auger-Aliassime. "I don`t want to be just standing there, you know, like a punching bag."

Russia`s 11th-seeded Medvedev, runner-up in 2021, 2022 and 2024, warmed up for Melbourne with victory in Brisbane and ground to a 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) opening win over Dutchman Jesper de Jong after twice being broken when serving for the match.

"The most important is to win," he said.

Men`s 13th seed Andrey Rublev also progressed, but women`s 15th seed Emma Navarro tumbled out.

- `Like my chances` -

Serbian great Djokovic, 38, faces Spain`s 71st-ranked Pedro Martinez in the final match of the day on Rod Laver Arena.

A former world number one, now ranked four, Djokovic is the undisputed king of Melbourne, having won a record 10 Australian Open crowns.

He owns 24 major titles, equal for the most ever with Australia`s Margaret Court, but a 25th has remained agonisingly out of reach.

With Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner now dominant, Djokovic`s last Grand Slam victory came at the US Open in 2023.

Despite age and injury catching up with him, Djokovic said on the eve of his favourite tournament: "I know that when I`m healthy, when I`m able to put all the pieces of the puzzle together on a given day, I feel like I can beat anybody."

He added: "I like my chances always in any tournament, particularly here."

Australia`s De Minaur, the sixth seed, will have the Rod Laver Arena crowd roaring him on against 113th-ranked Mackenzie McDonald of the United States.

Poland`s Swiatek, the second seed, has never gone beyond the last four in Melbourne.

Like Alcaraz, she is pursuing a career Grand Slam of all four major titles, having triumphed previously at Wimbledon, the US Open and French Open.

Swiatek plays Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue while the American Anisimova, runner-up last year at Wimbledon and the US Open, meets Switzerland`s Simona Waltert.

Other notables in action include the 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka, who was handed a wildcard aged 40 in his last Australian Open before retirement.