Federer discuss a potentially difficult first-round tie against Lopez in fine style at the French Open. The world number three, who next plays French wild card Maxima Teixeira, knows all about the hazard of the knowledgeable Spaniard having saved match point in their fresh meeting at the Masters 1000 event in Madrid.
Roger has not been at his best on clay this period, failing to reach a final, but he looked sure throughout on Court Philippe Chatrier as he wrapped up a 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7/3) win.
After Novak Djokovic's obliteration of Thiemo De Bakker earlier, this match took a while to get going but, when Federer broke for the first time in the eighth game, the first set was all but over.
The Swiss, champion at Roland Garros in 2009, was serving chiefly well, not let Lopez a single break point, and he continued to do just enough with one break at 2-2 in the second set.
The third was a tight affair up until the tie-break, when Lopez threw in a couple of voluntary errors to give Roger a lead he never seem like give up, and the third seed clinch victory in style with his 12th ace.