Seventeen-time grand slam winner Roger Federer marked his long-awaited comeback with a confident straight-sets victory over Britain's Dan Evans in the Hopman Cup.
The 35-year-old Swiss, representing his nation in the mixed team event that he first won back in 2001, needed only an hour and three minutes to dispatch Birmingham's Evans 6-3, 6-4 in Perth.
Despite missing six months of action with knee and back injuries, Federer showed no signs of rust as he opened the singles showdown with an ace, breaking Evans in the sixth game of the first set.
Roger Federer has won his first game back after a six-month injury lay-off
Federer saw off Great Britain's Dan Evans in the Hopman Cup in Perth on Monday
Evans was defeated 6-3, 6-4 by the Swiss legend in the mixed team event
The British No 3 effectively handed Federer the match by dropping his serve in the second-set opener and half an hour later, the older man had put one point on the board for Switzerland.
Heather Watson will look to level the scores with a singles win over Belinda Bencic, with Evans and Federer later returning to the court for a mixed-doubles match that could decide the Group A session.
Federer has struggled with back and knee injuries over the course of the past six months
Evans dropped his serve in the first game of the second set, which Federer won in half-an-hour
Federer emerges through dry ice for his game against the British No 3
The 17-time Grand Slam champion wipes his brow during a break between games