Federer canters into 2nd round

Paris - Top seed and defending champion Roger Federer began his campaign for a 17th Grand Slam title with a comfortable 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 win over Australia's Peter Luczak in the French Open first round on Monday.

Federer, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning his first Roland Garros crown here in 2009, will face Colombia's Alejandro Falla for a place in the last 32.

The Swiss star was barely troubled by the 71st-ranked Luczak, who has never won a match at the French Open in four attempts.

But the normally unflappable star momentarily lost his cool when he squandered a first set point in the opener and disputed a call with umpire Emmanuel Joseph.

The minor disagreement didn't shake the champion, who wrapped up the first set on his next opportunity before taking a two-set lead with breaks in the fourth and sixth games of the second set.

Federer carved out two more breaks in the fifth and seventh games of the third set as his 30-year-old Australian opponent ran out of steam and ideas.

The match was his after 1hr 48min courtesy of a razor-sharp backhand.