Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer breezed through on a day of capricious winds and Andy Murray was slightly ruffled but not blown off course in the Qatar Open in Doha. For the fourth of the “Fab Four” who are threatening to dominate the men's game this year, however, the cobwebs proved a lot more difficult to shake off.

Novak Djokovic, the world No 3, admitted that he had arrived later than he should have in Australia for the Brisbane International, having seen in the new year at home in Monte Carlo and the upshot was a 6-4, 6-4 defeat by Ernests Gulbis, the Latvian, and a call to the organisers of next week's Medibank International in Sydney asking for a wild card.

Nadal, Federer and Murray arrived in Abu Dhabi a couple of days before 2009 dawned to prepare for a lucrative exhibition from which the British No 1 emerged with the money and the cup. Djokovic chose to head straight to Australia and the Serb should have guessed that he would draw a talent such as Gulbis, 20, in the opening round. The result was a performance that lacked conviction and poise.

Perhaps the most telling comment came from John Fitzgerald, the Australia Davis Cup captain, who said that Djokovic played throughout with a “faraway look in his eye”. It was pointed out that playing nine holes of golf on the morning of the match was not entirely the best preparation.

“I'm not panicking,” the 21-year-old said, even though he had not lost a first-round match in 39 tournaments stretching back two years. “The Australian Open is my goal. One of the reasons I didn't feel fresh is because I didn't get a lot of practice. I came too late, but I have time now to prepare.”

Twelve days to be exact, not as long as it may seem to a player who made his breakthrough as a grand-slam champion in Melbourne last year. The defeat by Gulbis may be the wake-up call he required.

On a cool day in Doha, Nadal, Federer and Murray lost only 11 games and the British No 1's victory would have been more emphatic had he not had a small letdown against Albert Montañés, of Spain, late in the second set, although he had enough in reserve to win 6-2, 6-4. Nadal defeated Fabrice Santoro, of France, 6-0, 6-1 and Federer beat Potito Starace, the Italian, 6-2, 6-2. Murray next meets Philipp Petzschner, of Germany.

Judy, his mother, acknowledged the rise in Andy's stature in the past year and promised more to come. “That's what's so exciting,” she said. “He could improve his percentage on his first serve and get more depth on his second. He could also improve around the net, particularly on his backhand volley.” Mums are never satisfied.

Anne Keothavong, the British No 1, got her year off to a fine start by beating Mirjana Lucic, of Croatia, 6-4, 6-2 at the ASB Classic in Auckland. The 25-year-old will next face Carla Suarez Navarro, the No 6 seed from Spain.