Rested but untested, Roger looking good in Dubai

DUBAI - Roger Federer sent Benoit Paire packing at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Monday, showing few signs of rust after a month-long break following his heroics at the Australian Open.

Chasing a record eighth title at the Dubai showpiece, Federer outclassed Paire 6-1, 6-3 in what was his first match since winning an 18th Grand Slam in January in Melbourne against Rafael Nadal.

The timeless Swiss, who had been unsure of his form and fitness following the layoff and a leg injury, is yet to lift an eighth title at any event. He has won Dubai, Wimbledon, Basel, Cincinnati and Halle seven times each.

"I'm happy with how I played, I was able to stay aggressive," said the 35-year-old. "I couldn't have had a better first-round start.

"There were some break points to be saved and I returned very well. My serve in the beginning was a bit off maybe, but I think also playing at night here for the first time ... it's always just a different ball when you toss it up with the lights, so that's going to get better as I progress in the tournament."

Federer, who has a training base in the UAE, defeated Paire for the fourth time without a loss with the Frenchman jeered for tossing his racket in the second set as he crashed to defeat.

Paire also had his ankle strapped trailing 4-1 in the opening set and then lost serve as Federer took a 5-1 lead. The Swiss wrapped up the first set after less than 30 minutes with a service winner.

The second set was equally one-way as Federer went through in well under an hour before attending a presentation on court to honor the Dubai event's quarter century.

"I missed playing here last year (knee surgery). I've played here for so many years, seen the tournament grow," said Federer, who is competing in the event for the 13th time.

"Especially after Australia, I know how special it is for me to be back on the court. It was a nice welcome."

Meanwhile, fourth seed Gael Monfils returned to Dubai for the first time since 2008 and advanced over Egyptian wild card Mohamed Safwat, 6-4, 6-3.

Spanish sixth seed Roberto Bautista Agut beat Russian hope Karen Khachanov 6-1, 7-6 (4) while 2014 semifinalist Philipp Kohlschreiber moved to within two victories of his 400th career win by beating eighth seed Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 6-4, 7-6 (1).

"To achieve my record would be great," the 33-year-old German said. "It would put me in the semifinals.

"But I still have a few years to play on the tour so I'm pretty confident that I'm going to make 400-plus, hopefully."

Spain's Marcel Granollers eliminated Czech Jiri Vesely 6-3, 6-2 while Guillermo Garcia-Lopez defeated Serb Viktor Troicki 6-4, 6-3.