Roger Federer has cruised to a 6-3 6-3 victory against Guillermo Canas in the second round of the Rome Masters.
The world No.1 gave a solid performance to see off Canas, who failed to reproduce the form which earned him two victories in one week against Federer on hard courts last year.
Federer's varied game plan of booming groundstrokes, clinical volleys and clever drop shots ultimately proved too much for the baseline-hugging Argentinian.
"I am very happy with my performance today," Federer said after the match.
"I had a couple of tough ones against him (Canas) last year but this was our first meeting on clay and I'm very happy with the way I played."
The first set went with serve until Federer broke Canas at 2-2 and he remained in control to go one set up with ease.
Having only won six points on Federer's serve by 2-2 in the second set, Canas reached his first break point at 3-2 up but Federer escaped with a volley which clipped the net cord before trickling over.
Canas fought back with a sumptuous backhand down the line but Federer saw out the game with two unreturnable serves.
That missed opportunity proved costly for Canas, who lost his serve in the next game after a scintillating rally on break point.
After a clever drop shot from the Swiss, several topspin lobs ensued, each athletically retrieved until Canas' high forehand drifted just long to give Federer the breakthrough.
The Swiss held serve and then broke Canas again to set up a second-round clash with either Mario Ancic or Feliciano Lopez.
Other winners in Italy included American Andy Roddick, Chilean Fernando Gonzalez and 14th seed Tommy Robredo.
It wasn't a pleasant day for the French, however, with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga ousted by compatriot Gilles Simon and No.15 seed Paul-Henri Mathieu sent packing.
Second Round Results from the Rome Masters, Italy
1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) def. Guillermo Canas (Argentina) 6-3 6-3
6-A Roddick (USA) def. Mardy Fish (USA) 6-1 6-4
Gilles Simon (France) def. 10-J Tsonga (France) 6-2 4-6 7-6(8-6)
F Verdasco (Spain) def. 11-Carlos Moya (Spain) 6-3 6-4
12-Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) def. Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) 3-6 7-6 (7-0) 7-6 (8-6)
14-Tommy Robredo (Spain) def. Juan Chela (Argentina) 6-4 6-1
Ivor Karlovic (Croatia) def. 15-Paul-Henri Mathieu (France) 7-6(7-4) 6-2
Juan Ferrero (Spain) def. Nicolas Kiefer (Germany) 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-4
Jose Acasuso (Argentina) def. Dmitry Tursunov (Russia) 6-4 6-2
Mario Ancic (Croatia) def. Feliciano Lopez (Spain) 6-4 6-4
Nicolas Lapentti (Ecuador) def. Filippo Volandri (Italy) 7-6 (8-6) 2-6 6-2
Simone Bolelli (Italy) def. Olivier Patience (France) 6-0 6-3