Roger Federer began his campaign for a record sixth Dubai Championships title with a 6-1 6-4 win on Monday over Benjamin Becker of Germany.

The world No.8 and fourth seed has never dropped a set to Becker in four matches.

He raced through the first set in 22 minutes.

Federer and top-seeded Novak Djokovic, who will play his first match on Tuesday, have won nine of the past 11 titles in Dubai.

The Serb will be playing for the first time since losing his Australian Open semi-final more than a month ago.

Federer won the Dubai trophy in 2003-05, 2007 and 2012. Djokovic, the defending champion, won four times, with Rafael Nadal winning in 2006 and Andy Roddick in 2008.

Russian eighth seed Dmitry Tursunov sent over eight aces as he began with a 7-5 6-1 defeat of Slovak qualifier Lukas Lacko in 69 minutes, saving all four break points he faced.

Tursunov, the world No.28, is playing the desert event for the fourth time, with a 2013 quarter-final his best career showing.

Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut beat Romanian qualifier Adrian Ungur 6-1 6-3 and will face the winner of Tuesday’s Djokovic-Denis Istomin match.

Italy’s Andreas Seppi reached the second round with a comeback win against German Florian Mayer 4-6 6-1 7-5.

The victory ended a four-match losing streak for Seppi, who won only his second match of the season. His previous victory came in the Australian Open first round.