World number one Roger Federer hit the ground running when he opened the defense of his Australian Open crown with a 6-1 6-1 6-2 demolition of Frenchman Fabrice Santoro Monday.

The top-seeded Swiss raced through the first set in 17 minutes and, with Santoro complaining of an upset stomach and fatigue in the heat, cruised through to a meeting with American Jan-Michael Gambill or Japanese qualifier Takao Suzuki.

"I was quite nervous before today's match," Federer said. "But I started fantastically. I think I won the first 12 points, and once I'd won the first five games I was OK.

"That set the tone for the rest and I never really gave him a chance to get back into the match.

"An easy three-setter sometimes looks very, very easy, but I always had the feeling I still had to play some good points to win them, especially against him. He gets back a lot of balls.

"But I'm happy with my performance, and that's what counts in the end."

Santoro, making his 13th appearance at the Australian Open, was simply outclassed as Federer, who won three of the four grand slams in 2004, left him reeling with several stunning shots.

Once Federer had taken the first five games in 11 minutes, the result was never in doubt, especially with Santoro struggling from the after-effects of taking anti-inflammatories to treat a wrist injury.

The Frenchman, who missed the last three months of 2004, competed well in the second and third sets but Federer had an answer to everything and clinched a comfortable victory in just over an hour and a half on his first match point.

Federer is bidding to become the first man since Pete Sampras in 1993/1994 to win three consecutive grand slam events, having also triumphed at Wimbledon and the US Open.

(Agencies)