Rafael Nadal enjoyed a spirited challenge from Serbian qualifier Viktor Troicki to work his way into the second round of the Australian Open.

Rafa was made to fight for every point by the 126th-ranked Troicki in the night centre court match but finally prevailed after two hours 35 minutes, winning 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 6-1 and will next play Frenchman Florent Serra in the second round.

Troicki, who was making his Grand Slam debut, had the benefit of winning three qualifying matches to earn his place against Rafa, who is playing in his fourth Australian Open and has progressed a round further in each of his previous appearances in Melbourne, last year reaching a place in the quater finals against the eventual finalist Fernando Gonzalez.

The opening set was decided in a tiebreaker and Rafa set up four set points to go one up in just over an hour. Troicki again proved difficult to subdue and broke the Spaniard in the third game, before Rafa broke twice in the eighth and 12th to take a stranglehold on the match with a two sets to love lead. Troicki's serve was broken in the fourth game of the final set as Nadal took command, with the Serb's game beginning to unravel. Rafa finished strong and broke Troicki again in the sixth and served out the match.