But in a match watched by Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, Tipsarevic was no match for Federer, who hit 25 winners to take his head-to-head record over the Serb to 5-0.
Djokovic had lost just one of his 19 matches since the US Open but that defeat came against Davydenko as the Russian stormed to the title in Shanghai last month, and with a 2-2 head-to-head record there was every reason to expect a tight match.
He had been expected to provide Federer with his first serious test of the tournament but a head-to-head record of 0-12 suggested Soderling might again find the Swiss a challenge he just could not overcome.