Dubai Open: Federer returns with easy win over Paire

TIL Desk Sports/ Roger Federer breezed back into action to reach the second round of the Dubai Open with a straightforward 6-1, 6-3 over erratic Frenchman Benoit Paire on Monday.

In his first match since memorably claiming his 18th grand slam title by beating Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open a month ago, the 35-year-old was immediately back in the old routine to give Paire the runaround.

There was precious little resistance from the Frenchman as Swiss maestro Federer, the third seed, delighted a packed Centre Court crowd with some flashes of brilliance.

Paire was warned for unsportsmanlike behaviour at one point after hurling his racket and also needed treatment on a foot injury. Federer claimed victory in less than an hour. The Swiss, who does much of his training in Dubai, is looking for his eighth title at the tournament.