HAMBURG, Germany — Top-ranked Roger Federer eased past Jarkko Nieminen 6-1, 6-3 today to reach the third round of the Hamburg Masters, a tournament he has won four times.

Nieminen had never won a set in eight previous matches against Federer.

Federer looked comfortable from the start on the sunny center court.

The defending champion used a full range of shots to dominate the first set, taking a 4-1 lead with a powerful forehand winner past the stranded Nieminen.

The second set was a sloppy affair, with four straight breaks of serve at the start. Federer then made the decisive move with another break for a 4-3 lead and wrapped up the match in under one hour. He had 22 winners, twice as many as Nieminen.

Earlier, James Blake was upset by Janko Tipsarevic 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Blake broke Tipsarevic's serve to win the first set, but the tenacious 33rd-ranked Tipsarevic got steadier in the second set and then broke Blake's serve for a 2-0 lead in the third.

Also, Nicolas Kiefer defeated Slanislas Wawrinka — the runner-up at the Rome Masters on Sunday — 7-5, 7-5. Kiefer saved two set points in the second after dropping his serve, then tied the set at 5-5 and won on his second match point when Wawrinka's forehand hit the net.

Ivo Karlovic upset Tommy Robredo, the 2006 champion, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (3).

Also, Marat Safin beat ninth-seeded Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-4, Juan Monaco defeated Simone Bolelli 6-2, 6-1 and Albert Montanes ousted Jose Acasuso 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Safin, a two-time runner-up in Hamburg, had to qualify for the main draw after dropping to No. 89, and is the lowest-ranked player remaining in the event.