Tennis star Rafael Nadal was too strong: qualifier Yannick Hanfmann was far from a sensation at the Australian Open.

At 2: 6, 3: 6, 4: 6, the Karlsruher defended himself bravely in Melbourne on Wednesday.

The number 126 in the world was ultimately unable to endanger the 20-time Grand Slam tournament winner from Spain in the second round duel in the Rod Laver Arena.

For ten of the initially twelve German professionals, failure at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year is already sealed.

"I know he's dangerous," Nadal said of Hanfmann after approvingly clapping him off Center Court: "I think his tennis level was much higher today than his ranking position."

Koepfer and Otte say goodbye

Dominik Koepfer and Oscar Otte were also knocked out in the second round.

The Black Forest Davis Cup player Koepfer lost against the favored American Reilly Opelka in three sets with 4: 6, 3: 6, 6: 7 (4: 7).

US Open Round of 16 Otte was unable to repeat his success from New York and lost 6:2, 2:6, 3:6 1:6 to Italian Lorenzo Sonego, who was 25th.

At the US Open last year, the Cologne native defeated Sonego in the first round and then surprised as a qualifier with the round of 16.

The great German hope at the Australian Open is Alexander Zverev.

The Olympic champion from Hamburg meets the Australian John Millman this Wednesday (second game after 9.00 a.m. / Eurosport).

On Thursday, Augsburg's Philipp Kohlschreiber wants to extend his stay in Australia by beating Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.

In doubles, the duo Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies meanwhile experienced a successful Grand Slam return.

Thanks to a 7: 6 (9: 7), 6: 3 against the Mexican Santiago Gonzalez and Andres Molteni from Argentina, the two-time French Open winners moved into the second round.

Krawietz/Mies made their comeback on the ATP tour last week in Sydney, where they reached the semifinals in their first tournament together in more than a year.

"I've missed him from time to time," said Mies with a smile.

At the beginning of last year, the man from Cologne had an operation on his knee for severe cartilage damage and then had to take a break for months.

"I think that the break, as stupid as it was, maybe didn't do so badly," said Mies: "Sometimes it's like in a relationship.

Sometimes you don't really know what you have in the other person anymore and take it for granted.

That wasn't really the case for us.

But that year it became clear to me again what a great partnership we have.”

The Australian world number one Ashleigh Barty only needed 52 minutes to advance to the third round.

The favorite finished off Italian qualifier Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 6-1.

In Melbourne, Barty carries hopes of becoming the first Australian tennis player since Chris O'Neil in 1978 to win the Australian Open.