Federer sweeps opening match after slow start

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Roger Federer made it look difficult for a change, starting his bid for a 10th Grand Slam championship and successful Australian Open title defense by dropping serve three times in the first set.

But the top-ranked Federer rebounded quickly after Bjorn Phau took a 5-3 lead, winning the next nine games -- conceding only six points in the second set.

The Swiss star went on to win 7-5, 6-0, 6-4, easily dispatching the 27-year-old German who beat him seven years ago in their only previous match.

Earlier, Andy Roddick overcame a shaky start against French wild-card Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, wasting four set points in the opening tiebreaker and rallying from 2-5 in the second set to win 6-7 (18), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-3.

Women's champion Amelie Mauresmo was first up on Rod Laver Arena and started her title defense with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Shenay Perry.

Apart from dropping serve in the third game and again when serving for the match at 5-2, the second-seeded Mauresmo was in control as she returned to the scene of her biggest breakthrough victory.

Mauresmo beat Justine Henin-Hardenne in the final last year to claim her first Grand Slam title.