Imperious Roger Federer destroys Sugita in 52 minutes

Federer was stunned 2-6 7-6(8) 6-4 by 302nd ranked German Tommy Haas in Stuttgart last week, but the 18-times Grand Slam champion sizzled at an event he has won eight times with his 1,100th win as a professional.

35-year-old Federer sat out the entire claycourt season after winning the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami Open to prepare his bid for an eighth Wimbledon crown with the Grand Slam on grass due to begin on July 3.

Federer needs two wins at the German event to secure a top-four seeding for Wimbledon and avoid a potential quarter-final with Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal.

The world number five required a little longer after he wasted three match points at 5-0 before breaking Sugita again to clinch the match after 52 minutes.

Third seed Kei Nishikori had to work much harder to get into the next round with a 6-7(7) 6-3 6-4 victory over Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

Local hero Alexander Zverev, the fourth seed who has already won three titles this year, made light work of Italian Paolo Lorenzi during a 6-3 6-2 workout, while his older brother Mischa also booked a second round spot with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Lukas Lacko.