体坛英语新闻：Djokoivc starts Australian Open defense with easy win

MELBOURNE, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Novak Djokovic cruised through his first match at the Australian Open here on Monday, starting his bid for a third consecutive title with a 6-2, 6-4 and 7-5 victory against Paul-Henri Mathieu of France.

The top-ranked Sebian faced only three break points in the match and saved them all.

Djokovic said his victory against Mathieu, who reached a career-high No.12 ranking in 2008, was a good preparation for his second-round match against American Ryan Harrison.

Djokovic's five-set victory against Rafael Nadal in the 2012 final that lasted almost six hours is already part of Australian Open folklore. He tore off his shirt and flexed his muscles after the marathon win last year, and is hoping to add another chapter by becoming the first man to win three consecutive Australian titles in the Open era.

Nine others have won back-to-back titles and none have claimed three in a row since the Open era started in 1968.

"Any achievement, especially if it's part of history, would mean a lot to me," Djokovic said. "I love this sport. This sport is my life since I was 4 years old. I try to generate this great desire to play this sport from that love."

"I think it's too early, again, to speak eventually about the title because there are many contenders to win this title." said the Serbian.