Brisbane, Australia - Novak Djokovic's upcoming defence of his Australian Open title was plunged into disarray on Tuesday as the Serb crashed out 6-4, 6-4 in his opening match at the Brisbane International.

The world number two was upset in his first match of the season and now has no chance to gain ranking ground this week on Roger Federer, who competes in Doha.

Gulbis earned his first win over his former teenage companion at a Munich tennis academy after losing to Djokovic at the French Open and Cincinnati Masters last year.

Djokovic lasted just 88 minutes as he was upset by the world number 53, with Gulbis breaking in the fifth game of the opening set to start his roll to victory.

The Latvian emerged the steadier after four breaks to start the second set, recovering from a break down with a break-back in the ninth game before claiming victory on the first of three match points with his fourth ace of the afternoon.

Czech fifth seed Tomas Berdych advanced to the second round as he crushed Australian hopeful Brydan Klein 6-0, 6-4, adding to the run of losses for the host nation over the opening two days at the new event.

A pair of French players moved through, with Paul-Henri Mathieu defeating Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia 6-3, 6-3 and Florent Serra knocking former French Open winner Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

On the women's side, second seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus opened with a win against Slovakian-born Australian Jarmila Gajdosova 7-6 (7-4), 7-5.

2007 Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli spent 90 minutes stopping Hungarian Melinda Czink 5-7, 6-3, 6-1. (dpa)