In control

While Djokovic suffered, second seed and defending champion Roger Federer looked as sharp as ever in his first outing after a two-month layoff as he eased past Radek Stepanek 6-3 6-3.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts after losing a point to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during their men's singles match at the Madrid Open tennis tournament, May 7, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Andy Murray, the third seed, also played earlier on Tuesday and came through a testing encounter against German Florian Mayer 7-6 7-6.

Federer chose an eye-catching mint-green shirt for his first match since losing to Nadal at the Indian Wells Masters in March.

Moving gracefully over the red dust on centre court, the 31-year-old set up a third-round clash against Japanese 14th seed Kei Nishikori or unseeded Serbian Viktor Troicki.

Stepanek, 34, produced a late rally to break the Federer serve in the eighth game of the second set but was broken himself the next game when he sliced a forehand wide.

"I didn't think I played incredible, but that's not what I was expecting myself to do here, but I didn't play bad either," said Federer.

"Overall, I'm very happy, because he has caused me difficulties in the past," added the world number two.

"Today that wasn't the case and I thought I was pretty much in control."

Murray was satisfied with his performance against unseeded Mayer but said his first outing at altitude - Madrid is around 600 meters above sea level - had left him short of breath, especially because of a recent illness.

The first-set tiebreak, when Murray saved five set points before coming through 13-11, had been particularly taxing, the Scot said.

"I felt like I hit the ball very well today, very few mis-hits, I just didn't return so well. That was the only thing I would have liked to have done better," he told reporters.

"I was struggling - I think both of us were - at the end of the first set. There were so many long points."

Murray, who won the Madrid title in 2008 when it was played on indoor hard courts, will next play the man he beat in the final that year, Gilles Simon.

Fifth-seeded French Open champion Nadal begins his bid to win his home event against France's Benoit Paire on Wednesday.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts after losing a point to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during their men's singles match at the Madrid Open tennis tournament, May 7, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]