Federer, the heavy favourite to win the year's first Grand Slam tournament after an outstanding 2004 when he won three Grand Slam titles and the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup, finally doused the 203rd-ranked Suzuki 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in 1hr 53min.

The defending champion will next take on Finland's Jarkko Nieminen, who earlier knocked Thailand's tennis pride Paradorn Srcihaphan out of the Open.

Suzuki unsettled Federer's smooth rhythm with net-rushing tactics and through the three sets made a total of 96 approaches to the net.

Suzuki won his first-ever match at the Open in the first round against American Jan-Michael Gambill and after coming up empty in his two previous tilts at the year's first Grand Slam tournament in 1999 and 2001.

Federer joins four-time winner Andre Agassi and two-time finalist Marat Safin in the third round.

Agassi demoralised Rainer Schuettler in a repeat of their 2003 final here as he marched into the third round.

Eighth-seeded Agassi dismantled the 40th-ranked German on Rod Laver Arena, 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 win in just 1hr 27min, a near carbon-copy of his win over Schuettler in the Australian final two years ago.

Agassi's latest masterclass set up a third round encounter with compatriot serve-volleyer Taylor Dent on Friday.

The 34-year old American, the oldest man in the field, showed no signs of a hip injury that last week threatened his participation as he ran down drop shots and drilled backhands and forehands past the hapless German.

"To be able to have the time to get it (injury) better up to this point is a great sign that it will be 100 percent, because I've got another day now," Agassi said. "My movement was plenty good enough for me to think about my game and not think about that."

Agassi is on target to face Federer in the quarterfinals in the top half of the men's draw.

Safin wasted no time in reaching the third round with a brisk demolition of Czech Bohdan Ulihrach.

The Russian fourth seed -- who slogged through a record 30 sets lasting over 21 hours during last year's march to the final where he lost to Federer -- was in no mood to hang around and raced to a 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 victory.

Safin, who also whistled through his first round tie without dropping a set, now faces 28th seed Mario Ancic of Croatia in the next round as he seeks to go one better than last year.

Safin said he was enjoying his best start ever to a Grand Slam, saying hard work and a wiser outlook were paying dividends.

"This is the best start I've had," Safin said. "I did a good job in the preseason, worked hard. I'm ready.

"Also, I got older a little bit. I have more experience so I know what to do. Always I was looking for a good start in every Grand Slam, but for some reason not enough experience ...

French Open champion Gaston Gaudio came from a set down to beat American Mardy Fish on the way to the third round.

The Argentine 10th seed fought back to oust Fish 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) in three hours and will now play Slovakia's 20th seed Dominik Hrbaty in the third round.

Thailand's tennis hero Paradorn Srichaphan missed out on his chance of facing Federer in the third round after going down to Finland's Jarkko Nieminen, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

Elsewhere, Slovakia's Karol Beck came from two sets down to knock out underdone German 16th-seed Tommy Haas 5-7, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 and rising Swede Joachim Johansson, the 11th seed, Dutchman Peter Wessels 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

The 2002 Australian Open champion and 30th seed Thomas Johansson of Sweden was taken to five sets before extinguishing Argentine Agustin Calleri 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 to set up a third-round meeting with American Kevin Kim, who ended Spaniard giant-killer Guillermo Garcia Lopez's run with a straight sets 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win.