Federer races to a 30-0 lead and a punchy forehand into a postage stamp of a corner takes him to within a point of the set. Lacko ruins what would have been a blemish-free hold, but the game and set ultimately belongs to Federer. The Swiss wipes his sweaty visage as he returns to his chair. A job well done.

A lengthy rally at 15-30, which ends with a Federer backhand floating beyond the baseline. That Federer backhand, it seems, still occasionally faltering. It matters little, though, because the Swiss soon collects a set point - but the net cord favours Lacko and the Slovakian breathes again, though for how long nobody knows.

Ah. Federer misses a simple forehand and starts a monologue as he walks, shoulders slumped, towards the baseline. Slow applause for Lacko. The crowd rooting for the underdog and he rewards his supporters with a gutsy hold.

Another easy-peasy hold for Federer, who eases to within a game of the second set. Lacko was only able to get one point on the scoreboard against the reliable Federer serve.

We're at 30-30 and Lacko makes a contest of this service game by running around to his forehand and forcing Federer on the defensive, but the Swiss quickly turns defence into attack with a booming forehand and poor Lacko merely finds the barrier. Break point Federer.

A fine serve comes to Lacko's rescue, though. Deuce. The underdog wriggles to advantage and Federer balloons a forehand into the tramlines, which means Lacko has comes through that moment of adversity. Hurrah!

Another simple hold for Federer. He scampers towards the net, places a shoulder-height volley beyond Lacko and it's game over. For those of you who don't know, Federer is looking to become the fifth man in the Open Era to win two or more Grand Slam titles after turning 30. You suspect, he will have to overcome trickier customers than Lacko if he is to do that on the Parisian clay.

Another break point for Federer... The Swiss accumulating break points like the rest of us collect odd socks. Lacko, though, reins in Federer and gains advantage, and a backhand into the tape from Federer gives the Slovakian some reprieve.

Federer, you sense, will soon be able to prepare for his second round match. He eases ahead to 40-15 and wraps up the game with little fuss.

Image source, AP

A first ace of the match for Lacko, but he follows that up with a wild forehand which bounces beyond the baseline, presenting Federer with a break point. The Swiss eyes a gap on his opponent's backhand side, but misses a routine pass and, so, to deuce we go.

A forehand into the tape from Lacko, though. Second break point Federer. The Swiss fiddles with a wayward strand of hair before crouching to face what Lacko throws his way, but there's no venom in the Slovakian's shots and Federer is ahead, and on course for a comfortable victory.

It takes Federer just a few minutes to level in the second set and the Swiss looking infallible in the French capital.

A straight-forward hold from Lacko, which earns the Slovakian a deserved round of applause from the Parisian crowd. They're still a bit too quiet, though, those Philippe Chatrier ticket holders, but that is always the way on the opening day of the French Open.

Markie Mark:, external I don't think anybody can stop Nadal, the king of clay. Djokovic maybe, but that's it.

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Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

"Andy Murray is involved in a rare old battle on Court Five right now, and he doesn't play his first match for two days. The Briton is practising with Austrian Dominic Thiem, a real rising star and potential second-round opponent for Rafael Nadal.

"Murray hits a fizzing backhand winner that draws applause from the sizeable crowd, Thiem responds with a killer drop shot. If they play anything like this when it counts, they will be two to watch."

Oh la la! An intake of breath from the crowd as they admire a rip-roaring forehand winner down the line from Federer, which eases the Swiss to within a point of the set. Federer in fine fettle. Federer in control. Federer strolling. Delicate shots from the Swiss and, once again, Lacko crumbles, finding the tape to gift the fourth seed the first set.

Federer gliding toward the net and collecting two break points on his travels, leaving Lacko scrambling on the baseline. Lacko attempts to work his opponent this way and that, but Federer returns everything that comes his way and the 26-year-old Lacko eventually surrenders at the net, plonking a backhand volley into the tape. Federer to serve for the set.

Federer, seeded fourth for the tournament, consolidates his break and short-sharp shooting from the Swiss sees him eke a healthy lead over his lesser-known opponent without having wasted too much energy.

Federer stepping in from the baseline more frequently in this game and the Swiss gets his reward - a forehand winner for break point. Polite applause from the sparse crowd on Chatrier, behaving as if Roland Garros was one big library. A shoddy volley from Lacko and Federer has nipped ahead.

These two adversaries have only met on one previous occasion. Maybe it is stretching it to even call them adversaries. Federer, of course, came out on top of that Australian Open encounter in 2011.

A beautiful slam dunk from Federer at the net takes him to within a point of holding and he wraps up the game with a punishing forehand into the empty half of the court. We're level once again.

Lacko should really be dressed in light denim and, perhaps, be listening to Status Quo. Instead, he has opted for a grey-black ensemble which is, admittedly, more in keeping with his surroundings. The world number 87 looks comfortable, easily holding as Federer fires a backhand into the tramlines.

The focus turns to father-of-four Federer, the old timer and veteran of the Tour. Have the sleepless nights following the arrival of a second set of twins affected his game? Has he been focusing on nappy changes rather than the serve? Nope, not one jot. A comfortable hold to love and the Swiss looks in tip-top form.