Two-time Brisbane International finalist Victoria Azarenka cruised into the second round on Monday with a comprehensive straight-sets win over Elena Vesnina.

After climbing back towards the top 20 last year, Azarenka made a positive start to her 2016 campaign with a strong display of baseline hitting as she cruised to a 6-2 6-0 victory.

Vesnina started well to take the opening two games of the match, but that was as good as it got for the Russian, Azarenka turning the screw.

The world number 22 reeled off 12 successive games to book her place in the second round, creating 13 break-point chances along the way. 

Fourth seed Angelique Kerber was given a scare in her opening match of the year as Camila Giorgi took the opening set of their first-round match, but Kerber responded well to claim a 5-7 6-3 6-0 win.

All of the seeds in action on Monday made it through to round two, only Roberta Vinci dropping a set as she – like Kerber – came from a set down to beat Jelena Jankovic 3-6 6-2 6-4.

Carla Suarez Navarro and Belinda Bencic both raced to straight-sets victories against Ajla Tomljanovic and Sara Errani respectively, while there were also wins for Samantha Crawford, Madison Brengle and home favourite Sam Stosur.