Roger Federer braved dust storm conditions to blow past Argentine Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-4 and open his week with a second-round victory at the Rome Masters yesterday.
The World No 2 with four titles this season — including two of the first three Masters 1000 honours of 2012 — came good on his hope of playing in Rome the week after winning in difficult conditions on and off court on the controversial slick blue clay of Madrid.
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Roger Federer returns to Carlos Berlocq during yesterday’s Rome Masters second round tie. Pic/AFP
The Swiss third seed will next play Spanish veteran Juan Carlos Ferrero, champion here 11 years ago. Federer beat Ferrero in a 2003 semi-final in Rome.
Djoko, Murray win
Britain’s World No 4 Andy Murray celebrated his 25th birthday here on Tuesday with a hard fought 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 victory over veteran Argentinian David Nalbandian to reach the third round.
It took 2 hrs, 37 min for the Scot to prevail and he barely looked as if he had the energy to eat a slice of the birthday cake that was brought onto court.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic breezed through to the third round with a 6-3, 6-3 masterclass dished out to young Australian Bernard Tomic.u00a0
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