Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have advanced without any problems in their opening matches at the Rome Masters.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have stepped their French Open preparations up a gear to advance without any problems in their opening matches at the Rome Masters.
Federer's last-minute decision to compete was rewarded immediately as he coasted to a 6-3 6-4 second-round win over Argentinian journeyman Carlos Berlocq on Wednesday.
Nadal slayed a mental dragon as he earned revenge against Florian Mayer 6-1 7-5 after losing to the German last year in Shanghai.
Second seed Nadal won the first set on a double break, with a break for 6-5 in the second paving the way to the win.
"The first set was important," said the Spaniard. "I felt good with my forehand. It's tough to play Mayer, he gives you on rhythm."
Federer was back on court just three days after winning the Madrid title on the controversial blue clay, an event where rivals Novak Djokovic and Nadal fell by the wayside - both of them fiercely critical of the slick surface.
But with a ferocious series of tests over the next four months including the French Open, Wimbledon, the London Olympics and the US Open, Federer was not about to overload his program unnecessarily.
"I only decided today after practise this morning," said the Swiss, whose win in Madrid took him to 74 ATP titles.
"I wanted to see how I felt and that nothing major was bothering me.
"I'm happy I felt good out there, but I'm going round-by-round.
"We are ahead of a long summer, this is the start of many events in a row and potentially a lot of five-setters. I needed to make sure that I took a good decision."
The world No.2 with four titles this season - including two of the first three Masters events - will next play Spanish veteran Juan Carlos Ferrero, champion in Rome 11 years ago.
Federer's tough opponent in the Madrid final, seventh seed Tomas Berdych, also progressed with a 6-4 6-1 defeat of Lukas Kubot.
Federer's compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka, a one-time finalist in Rome, upset Serbian eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic 6-3 6-1, while Italy's Andreas Seppi gave the home crowd a cheer as he rallied past giant American John Isner 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-5.
In the women's tournament, Australian fifth seed Samantha Stosur defeated Italian Sara Errani 6-3 7-5 and Czech Petra Cetkovska upset third seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 4-6 6-1.
Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues advanced 6-4 5-0 as former No.1 Caroline Wozniacki had to quit with breathing problems.
Both Williams sisters won against Russians, with ninth seed Serena Williams beating Nadia Petrova 4-6 6-2 6-3 and Venus stopping Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (9-7) 6-1.
Top seed Victoria Azarenka thumped Israeli Shahar Peer 6-1 6-2.
