Federer rebounds to win

Roger Federer made it look difficult for a change, starting his bid for a 10th Grand Slam championship and successful Australian Open title defense by dropping serve three times in the first set.

But top-ranked Federer rebounded quickly after Bjorn Phau took a 5-3 lead, winning the next nine games -- conceding only six points in the second set.

The Swiss star went on to win, 7-5, 6-0, 6-4, easily dispatching the 27-year-old German who beat him seven years ago in their only previous match.

“I got broken in the first set three times, and that makes you a little bit nervous,” said Federer, who went 92-5 with 12 titles last season and has held the top ranking since February 2004. “You try to stay cool, but I got a little bit nervous.”

Otherwise, he said, “it felt great to be back.”

Federer changed his preparation schedule this year, skipping his usual season opener and playing three matches in an exhibition tournament at Kooyong, where he lost the final Saturday to Andy Roddick.

Federer said it would take a little time to get his best rhythm back, and that he was happy to even the score with Phau, who beat him in 1999 at Washington.

Earlier, Roddick overcame a shaky start against French wild-card Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, wasting four set points in the opening tiebreaker and rallying from 2-5 in the second set to win, 6-7 (18), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-3.

The 2003 U.S. Open champion was constantly critical of chair umpire Carlos Ramos, calling the Portuguese official a “glorified scorekeeper” after a call that gave Tsonga a set point at 11-10 in the first tiebreaker. Roddick thought one of Tsonga’s volleys was three inches over the baseline.

Video replays are in use on Rod Laver Arena, the center court at Melbourne Park, for the first time at the Australian Open but not on any other courts. Roddick, seeded sixth, was playing on the second show court, so he could not ask for a replay.

“I think I got a little first-round jitters,” Roddick said. “I played better as the match went on. I hope I can get better in the second round.”

The American star said at times he was scared in the first set against 21-year-old Tsonga, who was playing only his sixth match in a top-level ATP event.

“Absolutely, to say the least. I was wondering if we were ever going to finish the tiebreaker.”

Women’s champion Amelie Mauresmo started her title defense with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Shenay Perry.

Apart from dropping serve in the third game and again when serving for the match at 5-2, Mauresmo was in control as she returned to the scene of her first Grand Slam tournament victory.

Mauresmo, who is seeded second, said she felt no extra pressure as the defending champion.

“It was good. I felt pretty happy to go on the court and to play first and to be able to, right from the first day, go on court and defend a title,” Mauresmo said.