Fresh Djokovic warns Australian Open rivals

Defending champion Novak Djokovic warned his Australian Open rivals he was fit, fresh and ready for the business end of the tournament after another quickfire win on Saturday.

The Serbian world number one tossed aside Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in just 74 minutes for his third straight-sets demolition job to advance to Monday's fourth round.

Djokovic, who dominated last year winning three of the four majors, has dropped only 10 games in his three wins and has spent only a combined 4hr 28min on court.

Djokovic saw no negatives in his stroll through the early rounds as he gears for the coming battles with the leading contenders.

"The positive out of this first week is my performance has been great," Djokovic said.

"I don't think I need to work particularly on some shots of my game. Maybe just serve and a little fitness today, just get ready for the second week.

"I didn't spend that much time on the court. I don't think I'm lacking any match play. I don't think I'm lacking any practice. I've had lots of practice in the last five, six weeks."

Djokovic said he plans to use his physical "freshness" for what lies ahead.

"I don't think there are any disadvantages considering the fact that I've played so many official matches," he said.

"In some ways some would think the (lack of) match play is going to affect my next match, that I'm going to play somebody who is higher ranked.

"But I don't think so because I've had enough matches, especially in 2011.

"I've had a lot of practice. I'm physically fit. I think the advantage of it is that I didn't spend that much energy, so I'm going fresh into the second week."

Djokovic added that he was not burdened by last year's outstanding success and was playing the best tennis of his life.

Last year's Australian Open triumph over Andy Murray was the first of seven straight tournament wins for Djokovic, in a 41-match winning streak that was finally ended by Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the French Open.

"It hasn't changed, even though I do have to defend every single point in first six months in every single tournament," he said.

"But, look, it is the way it is. I don't want to spend my time and energy thinking about dropping points.

"I'm really thinking only about improving my game, improving myself, staying really focused.

"The bottom line is that I'm 24. I feel that I'm playing the best tennis of my life. I'm at the peak. So I should use every moment and enjoy my tennis."

Djokovic ruined Mahut's 30th birthday, seeing off the 81st-ranked Frenchman 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 to set up a match on Monday against Canadian 23rd seed Milos Raonic or former finalist Lleyton Hewitt.

Mahut, who shares the record for the longest-ever tennis match of 11 hours and five minutes with John Isner at Wimbledon two years ago, was inconvenienced by a left knee injury.

Djokovic broke Mahut's serve eight times and made only eight unforced errors in the 20 games. He leads Hewitt 4-1 and has yet to play Raonic in an official match.