Roger Federer of Switzerland speaks to a ball boy during his match against Lukas Lacko of Slovakia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 17, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

MELBOURNE - Roger Federer clowned around in exhibition matches to help victims of devastating floods on the eve of the Australian Open, but was in little mood for charity as he opened his title defence with a straight sets pounding of Lukas Lacko on Monday.

With 16 grand slams and a stack of records in his suitcase, the 29-year-old Federer has little to left to prove on the circuit and off it has thrown himself into bigger pursuits as a U.N. ambassador for various humanitarian missions.

Federer inspired players last year to raise funds for victims of the Haiti earthquake before last year's tournament and was instrumental in bringing them together again on Sunday to raise funds as Australia battles to clean up after lethal floods across eastern states.  

On his return to Rod Laver Arena, however, where he sealed victory over Andy Murray for the title last year, Federer was giving precious little away to his 23-year-old Slovak opponent, barring an almighty schooling in the rigours of grand slam tennis.

At the end of the 84-minute lesson, Lacko was licking his wounds after an 6-1 6-1 6-3 thrashing and Federer was marching into his second round match against either Frenchman Gilles Simon or Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun.

Ominously, for arch-rival Rafa Nadal and the contenders ahead in the draw, Federer felt that the clean-hitting Lacko had not disgraced himself by any measure as the Swiss embarked on his campaign for a fifth Melbourne title.

"I'm sure he enjoyed it somewhat," Federer said without a trace of irony under overcast skies at Rod Laver Arena.

"I'm sure he's going to learn a lot from it and come back a better player.

"I thought it was a good match. I don't think he played too bad himself. I saw some talent in him, too, and that's why I think I was really happy I chose that tactics early on to pressure him."

TOP BILLING

Federer took the first point with an improbable backhand drop volley and fired another 36 winners across all angles of the court.

The masterclass appeared to bewitch even the line judges at times, and hapless Lacko had to plead for a TV review twice to prise a service break, Federer's only conceded, at 3-0 down in the second set when the Swiss hit just long twice.

Lacko rallied hard in the third but was stone-walled by Federer, who absorbed the pressure and fired it back with interest to continue his flawless first-round record in 11 campaigns at Melbourne Park.

Federer has had to concede top billing at Melbourne Park to arch-rival Nadal as the Spaniard bids for a fourth consecutive grand slam, but showed he will not concede the last title he owns without a huge fight.

After a barren run in the last three grand slam, the Swiss responded to fears his aura of invincibility might be fading with an emphatic win at the season-ending World Tour Finals, where he defeated Nadal in the final.