Defending champion Roger Federer [Images] led an express-speed charge of seeded players through the first round of the Australian Open on Monday, brushing aside Frenchman Fabrice Santoro.

The world number one raced past Santoro 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 in 94 minutes on Rod Laver Arena centre court at Melbourne Park.

Fifth seed Kuznetsova spent even less time on court as she became the first player to advance to the second round, storming past American qualifier Jessica Kirkland 6-1, 6-1 on nearby Vodafone Arena in 43 minutes.

Winner of three Grand Slams last year, Federer picked up where he left off as he blasted past the hapless Santoro.

Federer barely raised a sweat as he reeled off the first 12 points and then opened a 5-0 first-set lead. He raced through the first set in 17 minutes and, with Santoro complaining of an upset stomach and fatigue in the heat, cruised through to a meeting with American Jan-Michael Gambill or Japanese qualifier Takao Suzuki.

"I was nervous going into today's match but I started fantastic," Federer said. "I feel a bit sorry for Fabrice today."

"But I started fantastically. I think I won the first 12 points, and once I'd won the first five games I was OK.

"That set the tone for the rest and I never really gave him a chance to get back into the match.

"An easy three-setter sometimes looks very, very easy, but I always had the feeling I still had to play some good points to win them, especially against him. He gets back a lot of balls.

"But I'm happy with my performance, and that's what counts in the end."

SIMPLY OUTCLASSED

Santoro, making his 13th appearance at the Australian Open, was simply outclassed as Federer left him reeling with several stunning shots.

Once Federer had taken the first five games in 11 minutes, the result was never in doubt, especially with Santoro struggling from the after-effects of taking anti-inflammatories to treat a wrist injury.

The Frenchman, who missed the last three months of 2004, competed well in the second and third sets but Federer had an answer to everything and clinched a comfortable victory in just over an hour and a half on his first match point.

Federer is bidding to become the first man since Pete Sampras in 1993/1994 to win three consecutive grand slam events, having also triumphed at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

FIRST CASUALTY

Japan's [Images] Ai Sugiyama became the first seeded casualty when the number 16 was upset 7-5, 6-4 by Slovakian Martina Sucha on showcourt three.

World number five Kuznetsova peppered her match with 17 unforced errors. However, the 19-year-old Russian's stinging forehands proved too much for 17-year-old Kirkland, who was making her first appearance in the season-opening grand slam.

Four-times champion Andre Agassi [Images] was due to follow Federer on court against German qualifier Dieter Kindlmann, with most interest focusing on whether the eighth seed has fully recovered from a hip injury.

Second seed Amelie Mauresmo of France [Images], a Melbourne finalist in 1999, was scheduled to start the night session against local hope Samantha Stosur.

They will be followed by fourth seed Marat Safin [Images], the player Federer beat in last year's final, against Serbian qualifier Novak Djokovic.

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