World number one Roger Federer enjoyed a winning return following his Australian Open misery beating qualifier Bohdan Ulihrach 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Rotterdam Open.

The ice-cool Swiss took the first set against the 112th-ranked Czech on his sixth set point and a break early in the second assured a trouble-free run into the second round, where he now faces teenage compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka, who beat Sebastien Grosjean 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.

"The conditions were quite slow and and it was sometimes tough to see the ball with the crowd in the background," said Federer, playing at one of the few events which he failed to win last season during a record-setting year-long victory run.

Federer sent down seven aces as he put behind him the disappointment of his semi-final loss in Melbourne against eventual Australian Open champion Marat Safin.

But the world number one admitted that defeat stung sharply for a day or two after losing the dramatic five-setter. "At the time defeat was hard to accept," said the winner of 11 titles last season, including three of the four Grand Slams.

Federer has something to prove in Rotterdam, playing here for the sixth time without a title. His best showing was the 1999 semi-finals; he lost to Tim Henman in the quarters 12 months ago.

Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan roared past second seeded Argentinian Guillermo Coria and into the quarter-finals as he continued to reap the rewards of his decision to work with a new coach.

Meanwhile, big-hitting Swede Joachim Johansson followed on from last weekend's second ATP title of the season, rolling over Wang Yeu-tzuoo of Taipei 6-2, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3. 

(Agencies)