Federer's bid for a 20th grand slam title will be aided by the absences of Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori, as well as lingering injuries to top players who are still expected to play like Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka.
Andujar, ranked 75th in the world, made a strong start, while Federer struggled to settle into his serving rhythm early on.
Roger Federer made a winning return to competitive tennis after six months out of the game on Monday, thrilling a packed Rod Laver Arena as he beat qualifier Juergen Melzer 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the Australian Open second round.
A solitary break in the eighth game was all Djokovic needed to take the opening set, as the 37-year-old looked in total control despite playing well within himself in perfect conditions at a packed centre court.
The defending champion did not require his dazzling best against 80th-ranked Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in his first match scheduled during the day session but still emerged a comfortable 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-2 winner.
A true legend of the game who paved the way and taught so many of us how to be as a player and as a person.
'Here's how mine went: Lost my last singles, Lost my last doubles, Lost my last team event, Lost my voice during the week, Lost my job'.
Roger Federer and Serena Williams, holders of a combined 43 singles Grand Slam titles, will face each other for the first time on Tuesday when they feature in the Hopman Cup mixed doubles match.
The 19-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik beat his childhood idol Novak Djokovic in the Miami Open final in an upset for the ages on Sunday.
With only two weeks to go for the Australian Open, tennis stars Roger Federer, Victoria Azarenka, Radek Stepanek and Garbine Muguruza were seen in a light-spirited mood in Brisbane. As part of Nickelodeon Kids Day, the tennis stars led by 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer posed for pictures with cartoon characters.
Roger Federer's decision to withdraw means Switzerland can no longer take part in the nation-based event on January 3-12
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley has defended giving Roger Federer 'prime time' treatment at the year's first Grand Slam, saying it was a matter of meeting fans and broadcasters' demands for the 'box office' athlete.
Friction has dogged the ATP Player Council, whose president is world number one Novak Djokovic, this year since ATP president Chris Kermode failed to gain support for another term.
World number one Novak Djokovic said on Wednesday he hopes rival Roger Federer will return to competitive action soon and be able to compete with the best again after the Swiss great said he would miss the Australian Open in January.
Former world number one Novak Djokovic, the last surviving member of tennis' "Big Four", said he does not plan on stopping any time soon but admitted that the retirement of rivals Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal has been overwhelming.
Roger Federer said on Tuesday he was not that bothered about Serbia's Novak Djokovic closing in on his ranking as world number two. "I'm going to sleep well for a month. He (Djokovic) is not going to pass me anytime soon," Federer told a news conference.
Roger Federer blamed troubled preparations for his US Open quarter-final exit on Wednesday, saying he had spent most of the time leading up to the year's final Grand Slam worrying about his back instead of focusing on training.
The 23-year-old Federer dominated the men's game this year, winning 11 titles including three Grand Slams and the Masters Cup.
Security was breached at the French Open on Sunday when a fan jumped onto Court Philippe Chatrier and attempted to take a selfie with Roger Federer.
Roger Federer will miss the Australian Open in January and is unlikely to return to competition until mid-2022 as he recovers from multiple knee surgeries, the former world number one told Swiss media.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will attempt to set a world record for attendance at a tennis match, with the help of some celebrity guests, when they play an exhibition game in Cape Town in February.
Roger Federer clinched a record-extending 10th Swiss Indoors championship title in his hometown of Basel with a crushing 6-2, 6-2 victory over Australia's Alex de Minaur on Sunday.
He has not won any tournament since the Australian Open in January. Last week, he even lost on grass. Will it be a different story at Wimbledon?
Roger Federer breezed back into action to reach the second round of the Dubai Open with a straightforward 6-1, 6-3 over erratic Frenchman Benoit Paire on Monday.
Novak Djokovic's bid to add a 100th singles title to his trophy cabinet on Sunday was dashed after he was beaten 7-6(4), 6-3 by world number one Jannik Sinner in the Shanghai Masters final on Sunday.
International Premier Tennis League founder Mahesh Bhupathi, one of India's most successful doubles player, confirmed the absence of the two star players.
Federer's preparations for the claycourt Grand Slam were cut short in Geneva
World No 1 Novak Djokovic fought off a determined challenge from Swiss great Roger Federer on Sunday to claim back-to-back titles at Indian Wells and celebrate his 50th tournament win on the ATP Tour.
Champion Novak Djokovic foiled a stirring fightback from Roger Federer to defeat the Swiss 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 at the Australian Open on Thursday and charge into a fifth successive Grand Slam final.
Andy Murray has lost the world number two spot to Roger Federer in the latest ATP rankings released on Monday, after his defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Madrid Masters final.
Speaking after a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win over Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, Federer said the prize money for players at the top of the sport had improved significantly since he began playing but that was not the case at the other end of the spectrum.
Novak Djokovic won a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title by after winning this year's Wimbledon drawing level with long-time rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
He will surpass Roger Federer's record as the oldest No. 1 in ATP Rankings history on Sunday when he will be 36 years and 321 days old.
Roger Federer says he would be opposed to men's tennis following the women's example and allowing on-court coaching.
Roger Federer beat Novak Djokovic 6-3, 7-5 in the final of the Dubai Championships.
Ruthless Roger Federer thrashed suffering Croat Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 to become the first man to win eight Wimbledon singles crowns on Sunday, five years after landing his seventh.
Coric was quick out of the blocks at the Qi Zhong Stadium as he broke in the opening game against the top seed and only lost five points on serve to clinch the first set in 34 minutes.
Australian Open champion Roger Federer is set to continue defying Father Time after announcing he will return to defend his title next year.
Andy Murray knows what he must do to stretch his winning streak over 13-times grand slam champion Roger Federer -- the Swiss, though, is still unsure how to stop his nemesis.
Former world number one Andy Murray's comeback from a year-long injury layoff was ended by Nick Kyrgios at Queen's Club on Tuesday but only after the Briton produced a typically dogged display of resistance.