The world men's tennis number one Roger Federer has begun the defence of his Madrid Masters crown with a 6-2 7-6 dismissal of Benjamin Becker in the second round.
Federer barely broke sweat against the German world number 46 in the event he won last year on the way to his first French Open title.
The 28-year-old has made the final in three of the past four years, also winning in 2006, but has not claimed a title since lifting his 16th grand slam at the Australian Open in January.
Federer's clay court season has failed to spark in to life ahead of this month's Roland Garros event.
He was knocked out in the second round of the Rome Masters by Ernests Gulbis and fell to Albert Montanes in the semi-finals at Estoril last weekend.
