ROME: Two-tme Rome masters champion Novak Djokovic began his campaign for a hat-trick trophy with a 70-minute, 6-2, 6-3 win over Albert Montanes which was wrapped up with an ace.
The Serb was all smiles as he got the job done in his second-round start after a bye after losing a week ago in his opening match in Madrid to Grigor Dimitrov.
The Bulgarian threat was knocked out earlier by French ninth seed Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4.
Rafael Nadal began building for what he hopes will be a lucky seventh title at the Foro Italico after winning Madrid, his fifth title of a season which only began for him in February as he returned following seven months of knee injury absence.
“It’s a little different here with the (lower) altitude. Playing three Masters 1000s (form Monte Carlo a month ago) is difficult when you are in the final rounds.
“There is no time to prepare the next tournament. I arrived on Monday and I’m here to try my best.”
Djokovic wasted no time in his victory as he tries to finally rid himself of ankle problems which have bothered him for a month.
The top seed improved to 23-4 in Rome, where he won 2008 and 2011 titles.
In first-round play, Djokovic’s fellow Serb Viktor Troicki spoiled the possibility of a Nadal rematch with Lukas Rosol as he beat the Czech 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Rosol upset Nadal in the Wimbledon second round before the Spaniard was forced off court for his knee recovery.
Second seed Roger Federer, hit the ground running against Italy’s Potito Starace and closed out a 6-1, 6-2 win in 51 minutes.
Frenchman Julien Benneteau defeated 12th seed Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 while Russian Mikhail Youzhny surprised German number 13 Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-3. The 35-year-old Haas won the Munich clay title little more than a week ago and reached the third round in Madrid.
Madrid finalist and 15th seed Stanislas Wawrinka staged a fightback to overcome Carlos Berlocq 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.
Spain’s Fernando Verdasco beat Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos in three sets, while Frenchman Jeremy Chardy also needed three sets before beating Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4).
AFP
