MADRID, (Reuters) – World number one Roger Federer  began the defence of his Madrid Masters crown with a 6-2 7-6  morale-boosting dismissal of Benjamin Becker in the second round  yesterday.

With the sliding silver roof open on Manolo Santana court at  the Magic Box arena and bursts of sunlight bathing the red clay,  the Swiss barely broke sweat against the German world number 46.

Becker mounted a mini fightback to save two match points at  6-5 down in the second set and one more in the tiebreak but sent  a backhand wide on the next point to hand Federer victory.

“The moment the match started I felt great,” Federer, who  won the first point of the match on his serve with a powerful  smash, said at a news conference.

“I was hitting the ball fine and this centre court just  feels right to me.

“I’ve obviously never lost on this court so that gives me  confidence and I think that showed today in my game.”

The 28-year-old will be hoping to keep up his run in Madrid  as he has not claimed a title since lifting his 16th grand slam  crown at the Australian Open in January.

His clay court season has failed to spark in to life ahead  of this month’s French Open, where he is the champion. He was  knocked out in the second round of the Rome Masters by Ernests  Gulbis and fell to Albert Montanes in the semi-finals at Estoril  last weekend.

His win in Madrid last year, adding to his title in 2006,  was the springboard for his first Roland Garros crown and a  sixth Wimbledon victory and he said he felt even better  physically this year after not playing much in the past months.

REALLY TOUGH

“The (overall) feeling maybe last year was a little bit  better but then again after today’s match I feel great,” he  said.

Even if he failed to progress to the later stages in Madrid,  he said he would still have plenty of time to prepare for the  French Open, which starts on May 23.

“I’m going to put in some hard work and can practice with  tons of other top players which is going to make me really tough  for Paris,” he said.

Argentina’s David Nalbandian, who won the event in 2007 when  it used to be played on hardcourt, was scheduled to meet Czech  11th seed Tomas Berdych in the first round but both players  pulled out injured.

They were replaced in the draw by Americans Mardy Fish and  Michael Russell.

Sixth-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco came safely through  his second-round match against Ivo Karlovic, beating the  big-serving Croat 7-6 6-3.

Federer will play the winner of today’s clash between  compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka and Argentine Leonardo Mayer.