World tennis number 2 Roger Federer has begun his latest bid for a first title of the year with a confident straight sets win over Robin Soderling in the second round of the Madrid Open.
Briton Andy Murray came through a much stiffer test against Italian Simone Bolelli 7-6 6-4.
Federer has now won all nine of his matches against Soderling and his victory on the Madrid clay was never in real doubt.
It has been Federers worst run in years, but says the margin between success and failure is minute.
The 13-times grand slam champion next plays either American James Blake or Croat Ivo Karlovic.
World number one Rafael Nadal begins his quest for a sixth title this year, and fourth on clay, against Austrian Juergen Melzer tonight.
