In ominous form after winning the Brisbane International in the leadup, the 33-year-old Swiss was impenetrable on serve and charged around the court like a teenager to preserve his unbeaten record in the first round at Melbourne Park in his 16th appearance.
The 47th-ranked Lu battled hard to make the third set a contest, but lost serve in the 11th game before Federer sealed the match in less than two hours.
The Swiss master will play Italian Simone Bolelli in the next round. (Reuters)
