Toronto: World number one Roger Federer was all business a day after celebrating his 25th birthday, strolling into the third round of the Toronto Masters on Wednesday with a 6-3 6-3 win over Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean.
With a possible showdown against arch rival Rafael Nadal looming, the Swiss contented himself with a piece of birthday cake, flowers from his girlfriend and a routine first-round win over Paul-Henri Mathieu on Monday, rather than a late night party.
Playing in his first event since beating Nadal to claim a fourth Wimbledon title, Federer has shown few signs of rust in his return and needed just 67 minutes to sweep past Grosjean.
"It was similar to yesterday, good," Federer said. "I think I played a little more aggressive, I had some very, very good patches. I was really pleased the way I played because he is a tough player."
Bidding for a 40th career title, Federer broke Grosjean at the first opportunity and that was all the advantage the Swiss would need to secure the first set.
In the second Federer again scored the early break only to have the feisty Frenchman answer back to level the set at 1-1.
But the world number one would not be rattled, sweeping through the final four games to clinch the second set and the match, improving his hard court record this season to 30-1.
Nadal, the defending Toronto Masters champion, will try to join Federer in the final 16 later on Wednesday when he meets South Korean qualifier Lee Hyung-taik.
Fourth seed Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia booked his place in the third round with a 7-6 6-4 win over Frenchman Arnaud Clement.
Fifth seed James Blake, a winner of three hardcourt events already this season, and seventh seed Tommy Robredo of Spain became second round casualties.
Blake, the top-ranked American, was swept aside in just 73 minutes by young Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4 6-3 while Argentine Jose Acasuso needed three sets to tame Spain's Robredo 2-6 6-3 6-4.
Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, the 15th seed, booked his place in the final 16 with an emphatic 6-2 6-1 win over former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain.
Andy Murray beat British rival Tim Henman 6-2 7-6, confirming a changing of the guard for British tennis.
It was the second time the Britons had faced each other and 19-year-old Murray lived up to his British number one status by improving his record to 2-0 against his compatriot.
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