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London - Roger Federer took the express route into the third round of the Olympics with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over France's Julien Benneteau in just 58 minutes on Centre Court on Monday.
Federer admitted he had struggled with the extra pressure of representing Switzerland at the Games after a scrappy three-set win against Alejandro Falla in the first round on Saturday.
But this was a far more convincing display from the world No 1 as he took less than an hour to see off Benneteau and book a last 16 tie against Gilles Muller or Denis Istomin.
After winning Wimbledon for a record equalling seventh time earlier this month, Federer is desperate to complete a career Golden Slam by winning a singles gold medal for the first time.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion, who won doubles gold with compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka in Beijing in 2008, has been handed a relatively easy draw at this year's Games and he was never troubled by a totally out-classed Benneteau.
Benneteau, ranked 32nd, had pushed Federer to the brink in the Wimbledon third round this year, winning the first two sets before the 30-year-old hit back to win in five.
But, from the moment Federer unfurled a cross-court winner to break Benneteau in the second game, there was never any chance of a repeat of that drama at the All England Club.
Federer was in total command throughout his short stay on Centre Court and a final total of 24 winners and seven aces was testimony to his dominance.
