Roger Federer breezes through in Wimbledon warm-up in Halle

Halle: Roger Federer warmed up for Wimbledon by easing to victory in the second round on the Halle grass on Thursday, as he returns from a back injury that has disrupted his season.

The world number three, who dropped out of last month`s French open, had little trouble swatting aside Tunisia`s Malek Jaziri, 6-3, 7-5, and next faces Belgium`s David Goffin.

Federer, who is in the twilight of a sparkling career and turns 35 in August, is chasing a ninth title in Halle, Germany.

He has yet to win a title in 2016, his longest drought to start a year since he went title-less in 2000.

Goffin set up the meeting after Ukraine`s Sergiy Stakhovsky retired from their clash.

Also into the next round is home hope Philipp Kohlschreiber, the eighth seed, who beat Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 6-7 (7/9), 6-4, 7-5.

The indefatigable Kohlschreiber was playing for a 10th straight day.