Despite a battling display from Struff, 19-time Grand Slam champion Federer came out on top by a 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 scoreline.

After a relatively comfortable opening two sets for tennis legend Federer, Struff, who has never been beyond the second round of a Grand Slam, retaliated in the third to go 3-1 up.

However, Federer, who has won this competition five times, remained composed to recover and force a tiebreak, which he took 7-4.

As reported by the Daily Telegraph, Federer was very complimentary of his opponent after the match.

"I knew he could serve big, no problem for five hours so that's what you're ready for," said the Swiss.

"I knew he would go for his shots, so it's a question of focusing on my own serve, protecting that as well as I can, and then getting a break by good defence or maybe he helps me out a little bit.

"It was a bit of both in the end, but he played a good match."

Federer will now play France's Richard Gasquet, who has won 14 singles titles throughout his career, in the third round.

Earlier in the day, world number one Simona Halep of Romania continued her quest for a first Grand Slam title with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over 2014 Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard of Canada, despite still suffering from the ankle injury she sustained against home plater Destanee Aiava in her first round match.

As reported by the Daily Telegraph, after her victory, Halep, who has never gone beyond the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, said: "I felt the ball pretty well, it's always tough to play her as she hits the ball tough and plays close to the baseline.

"I just want to enjoy the time here even though I'm injured.

"I feel the pain but I didn't think about it.

"I just wanted to play the match and win it.

"I don't feel the pressure of being world number one.

"I expect tough matches, I just want to win every time I go out on the court.

"Nothing else is on my mind."

After an exciting 2014 which saw her reach the semi-finals of three Grand Slam events, Bouchard has suffered a downturn in form in recent times and is now ranked at 112.

The Canadian only held her serve once throughout her one-hour seven-minute match against Halep.

There was a shock in the women's event earlier in the day with British number one Johanna Konta, who reached the semi-finals of last year's tournament, losing to world number 123 Bernarda Pera of the United States 6-4, 7-5.

This year’s Australian Open has been played under the shadow of the controversy surrounding the naming of the Margaret Court Arena.

Several leading tennis figures, including Billie Jean King, have called for the name of the venue to be changed because of Court's controversial views over LGBTI rights.

The tournament continues tomorrow.