• Australian Open, Day Two

Federer hands Paire a lesson

Roger Federer was rarely made to stretch in Melbourne © AP

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Roger Federer proved his recent absence had not resulted in a loss of sharpness as he crushed Benoit Paire in the first round of the Australian Open.

Federer elected to build up for the first major of the year by staying away from competition and it did not seem to cause any problems as he wrapped up a 6-2 6-4 6-1 in just one hour and 23 minutes.

Paire is rated highly in the men's game, but he was dismantled by Federer. The Swiss master took the first set at a canter and although Paire found a foothold in the second, he could not make any inroads on the Federer serve.

Federer took the opportunity to chip and charge and was happy to mix topspin and slice. His movement was impressive and the angles he found were startling at times and it all proved too much for Paure.

The third set saw Federer fire a host of winners and he also harked back to days of old by chippig and charging on the backhand wing.

Tougher challenges lie ahead, but the masters thrilled those who packed in to the Rod Laver Arena.

The Hisense Arena saw Jo-Wilfried Tsonga battle hard to beat his fellow countryman Michael Llodra 6-4 7-5 6-2, while Juan Martin Del Potro was hugely impressive in seeing off Adrian Mannarino 6-1 6-2 6-2.

Milos Raonic powered down 30 aces and it contributed to his 3-6 6-1 6-2 7-6 (0) win over Jan Hajek.

The No. 9 seed advanced in style, Richard Gasquet beating Albert Montanes in three sets. It was a similar story for No. 12 seed Marin Cilic who eased past Marinko Matosevic, while Gilles Simon beat Filippo Volandri in four sets.

Gael Monfils is an unseeded player no-one wants to meet and he proved exactly why by mixing the sublime and the ridiculous as he beat No. 18 seed Alexandr Dolgopolov in four hugely entertaining sets.

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