DEFENDING champion Roger Federer romped to 7-5, 6-0, 6-4 victory over Bjorn Phau on the opening day of the Australian Open tennis tournament to book his place in the second round.

Phau had stormed into a 5-3 first-set advantage, but Federer won 10 straight games to quickly claim a 2-0 set advantage.

Federer needed three match points to finally see off Phau in the third set after letting the German recover from 3-1 down to level at 3-3.

The Swiss faces Swede Jonas Bjorkman or France's Olivier Patience next at Melbourne Park.

American Andy Roddick recovered from an epic first-set tie-break setback to overcome the spirited Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to also gain a second-round slot.

The sixth seed lost a record equalling tie-break 20-18 and looked to be heading for defeat in the second as Tsonga served for a 2-0 lead at 5-2, only for Roddick to recover and level.

Roddick then took control to seal a 6-7, (18-20), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 6-3 win.

Richard Gasquet, Mario Ancic and Juan Carlos Ferrero also booked their places in the second round with wins on the opening day.

Defending champion Amelie Mauresmo booked her place in the women's second round after a 6-3, 6-4 win over American Shenay Perry.

The No.2 seed recovered from an early break to seal the first set before bursting into a 5-1 advantage in the second.

Mauresmo was broken as she served for the match but booked her meeting with either Marta Domachowska or Olga Poutchkova after Perry had held her serve to delay the victory.