GSTAAD, Switzerland -- Wimbledon champion Roger Federer battled to victory in the first round of the Swiss Open on Tuesday as he overcame gutsy Spanish qualifier Marc Lopez 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3.

Earlier Federer was presented with his own cow -- named Juliette -- by organizers to commemorate his Wimbledon victory.

"It is a great idea, very funny," was Federer's reaction when presented with the cow.

"It is unbelievable to be here in my home country to celebrate winning Wimbledon."

Federer, who became the first Swiss male winner of a Grand Slam on Sunday, was cheered on by a capacity 6,000 fans in the Roy Emerson Arena in Gstaad following his success in London.

But the 21-year-old from Basel was forced to fight hard for victory on Gstaad's clay courts just two days after seeing off Australian Mark Philippoussis in straight sets to take the Wimbledon crown.

Top-seed Federer took the opening set 6-3 only for Lopez, who had to win two games to reach the first round proper, to level things up after winning the second-set tie-break 7-4.

Federer, whose world ranking has moved up to third, secured a vital break when 4-3 up in the final set before serving out to secure a place in the second round where he will now face Frenchman Jean-Rene Lisnard.

Federer joins defending champion Alex Corretja, who eased through after a 6-1, 6-2 thrashing of John Van Lottum; while second seed Rainer Schuettler, the Australian Open finalist, was never troubled as he beat Wayne Arthurs 6-2, 6-3.