<div><p>Roger Federer eased through to the second round of the Swiss Indoors here on Monday on his return after a six week break with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Belgian qualifier Olivier Rochus.</p><p>The world number one - bidding for a fourth successive Swiss Indoors title - shook off the rust from a six-week break to roar through and a date with Italian Andreas Seppi in just 66 minutes.</p><p>Federer's march to victory was preceded by an operatic performance with massed choir and selections from Aida as his hometown honoured three straight titles at the St Jakobshalle by the world-famed native son.</p><p>"I felt so good out there," said the winner, who needed three match points to go through after earning the first two winning chances with his 11th and 12th aces of a quick evening.</p><p>"This was my longest pause, even longer than in the close season. But I really needed it and it was worth it," said the winner of a first French Open title and sixth Wimbledon title this season.</p><p>"It's so great to be playing in Switzerland. I haven't done it for a year and I really missed it.</p><p>"I felt I played a good match and just want to carry on like this."</p><p>Federer improved to an overwhelming 6-0 over Rochus, who lost to Marcos Baghdatis in the Stockholm final just over a week ago.</p><p>The Swiss top seed broke in the sixth game of the 29-minute first set, then fired his fifth ace for a 5-2 lead before securing the opening lead.</p><p>In the second, Federer went ahead 3-2 and was untroubled save his minor niggles in closing out the straightforward victory.</p><p>Federer admits that Basel is the event closest to his heart after getting his start here as a ballboy a decade and a half ago.</p><p>The top seed has not played since helping his nation retain their place in the Davis Cup World Group with a win over Italy in September - Federer chose to rest rather than play the autumn tournaments in Asia.</p><p>The 15-time grand slam champion has laid low and got to know his three-month old twin girls as he assumed his additional new role as a father. He was unable to help himself as he bragged about his daft hand with a dirty nappy.</p><p>"I have an unbelievable technique," he said to laughter - mainly from his wife sitting in the stands.</p><p>Federer has not lost in Basel since the second round in 2003 when he was beaten by Croatian Ivan Ljubicic.</p><p>The Swiss who plans to go flat-out through this week, the Paris Masters starting next Monday and the year-end eight-man World Tour Finals in London, brings a 55-8 record this season to the court, with titles in Paris and Wimbledon as well as the Madrid and Cincinnati Masters events.</p><p>Fellow Swiss Stephane Bohli failed to give the home crowd a winning start on the day, with the number 148 journeyman losing 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 in the first-round to Italy's Seppi.</p><p>Bohli, now 0-4 at the ATP level this season, sprang a surprise on Seppi by winning the first set before the 51st-ranked Italian pulled his game together.</p><p>In the day's opening contest, Frenchman Florent Serra survived 28 aces off the racket of serve machine Ivo Karlovic but still subdued the Croatian 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=62508208&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

Copyright 2009  <a href="http://www.afp.com/english/links/?pid=copyright">AFP Global Edition</a></div></div>