LOOK at the scoreline and it is easy to imagine the world of Roger Federer gliding by serenely.

The world number one dispatched 20-year-old Californian Sam Querrey 6-4 6-4 6-3 to take his place in the second round of the French Open at Roland Garros.

But when Federer has his feet in Grand Slam clay, there is clearly some furious paddling going on beneath the surface.

Federer, who was launching his tenth attempt to lift the only Grand Slam title he has not won, admitted as much.

He said: It's hard, the first round of the Slams there's always pressure. He's an up-andcoming player who has got a good serve and big shots. On the day you don't know what's going to happen and that's why it's sort of nerve-racking.

Practice is one thing but today the atmosphere is different, the court full, the pressure is there. That's why I'm sort of relieved getting through the first one. From now it should get a little bit easier.'' Federer's worries doubtless come from the fact that he has lost three times in the first round at Roland Garros. Twice more he has failed to get past the fourth round.

The city of lights has seen some of Federer's darkest moments.

No wonder the talk was of nerves'' and pressure'' and relief''.

To most spectators, however, the outcome could never have been in doubt despite 6ft 6in Querrey's reputation as a big server who last year served 10 consecutive aces at Indianapolis, believed to be the longest streak in the Open era.

It is one thing serving big but when your first delivery lands in court only 44% of the time, as it did against Federer, you are somewhat squandering your main weapon.

Which is why it was one of those matches on Court Suzanne Lenglen, played at times in almost library-like silence. The action tepid to lukewarm.

It deviated from the routine only in the fact that Federer is clearly some way off his best form.

Mostly that is down to his timing.

You can hear it. Time and again the ball came off his racket with a hollow thud rather than a sweet twang.

Too often the balls flew wildly long especially in the first set, but also in the second when at one point Federer let out a cry of utter frustration as the ball flew up from the line and he missed it completely.

And yet at 40-30 down in the fifth game of the second set Federer slid across the baseline, stretched impossibly in midflight like a skater emerging from a triple salko and fizzed the ball cross court where it alighted on the line and left Querrey openmouthed in wonder.

It was a reminder of the real Roger Federer, the one who has won 12 Grand Slams and is closing in on Pete Sampras' total of 14. The one who is regularly voted one of the top 100 most influential figures in the world due to his ability to wield a tennis racket better than any man alive.

The one desperate to go one better than his previous two French Opens when he has finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal.

To do that he must improve - a fact not lost on the man himself.

He said: I've played well all clay court season. I didn't have many hiccups really. Now it's just a matter of getting used to the conditions. I'm very happy to have won the match today against Mr Querrey.'' Polite as ever. Nerves gone.

Serenity restored.

Guillermo Coria's French Open campaign, meanwhile, came to an end on the afternoon of day two, but the injury-prone Argentinian left Roland Garros insisting: I'm back.'' Coria, the runner-up here in 2004 when he lost to compatriot Gaston Gaudio in five sets in the final, has seen the last two years of his career ruined by shoulder and back injuries.

A former world number three, his ranking has dropped to 733 and he only entered this year's draw at Roland Garros because he was given a protected ranking of 105.

But in his first grand-slam event since the 2006 US Open, Coria was impressive and despite his 5-7 6-4 6-1 6-4 defeat to 12th seed Tommy Robredo, his display on Philippe Chatrier court hinted at better things to come.

Once on the verge of retirement, the 29-year-old now has fresh hope for the future.

One month ago, I didn't think I would be here at Roland Garros, and you know what that would have meant to me,'' he said.

But I took up the challenge and I can tell you the situation has changed.

I'm back and I'm really eager to be on the tour. It was a great pleasure to be here.

I feel great and I hope one day I will win the tournament.'' Coria's foibles with his malfunctioning serve still persist but he caused Robredo - three times a quarter-finalist at the French Open - a host of early worries, especially in the first set.

This demonstrates I can perform against a player who is ranked 13th or 14th in the world, so this gives me a lot of confidence,'' he added.