Polish world No.1 Iga Swiatek was mobbed after her great escape in round one of the Australian Open, but she had to remind Aussie fans to treat players with patience and respect.

Open officials were breathing a sigh of relief after the Polish ace scrambled to a 6-4 7-5 first-round win over German Jule Niemeier on Monday night.

On a day they lost men's drawcard Nick Kyrgios to a knee injury, Swiatek looked in danger of joining the exodus of superstars before reeling off four straight games in the second set to seal victory.

After the match the Polish star took time to sign autographs for a crowd of fans, but one got a little bit too enthusiastic.

As Swiatek signed novelty giant tennis balls, one fan decided the quickest way to get their ball to the star was to throw it.

She quickly took evasive action, but the ball struck her in the midriff, prompting Swiatek to waggle her finger at the fan and deliver some angry words.

To her credit, Swiatek did retrieve the ball and sign it for the fan.  

In another classy moment, Swiatek also lauded retired champion Ash Barty as an ongoing inspiration.

On a day they lost men's drawcard Nick Kyrgios to a knee injury, Swiatek looked in danger of joining the exodus of superstars before reeling off four straight games in the second set to seal victory.

Swiatek then paid tribute to Barty, who the 21-year-old replaced at the top of the rankings following the Australian great's shock retirement last March.

She said the 2022 Open title winner, who will be at Melbourne Park assisting local youngster Olivia Gadecki and possibly presenting the trophy to the new champion, had helped take her game to new heights.

'Last year when I lost to her in Adelaide, I was like 'I have to do everything to learn how to get back this slice and cope with the change of rhythm',' Swiatek said.

'For the next few months, I was really, really motivated. I'm really grateful for that.

'She's just a huge inspiration and the way she behaves, she's so classy.

'It just seemed like she really enjoyed competing and having a challenge, which I really admire because sometimes for me a challenge is something that I tend to get nervous before.

'So I really wanted to kind of have this mindset and she really inspired me to work on myself.'

It was Swiatek's first match since she pulled out of the Adelaide International with a shoulder injury after being left in tears by a 6-2 6-2 hammering from American Jessica Pegula at the United Cup.

Swiatek next faces Colombian Camila Osorio on Wednesday