Roger Federer insisted his focus at this week's Italian Open was on getting more match practice on clay ahead of the French Open in two weeks time.  The 20-time Grand Slam winner has not played on the red clay in the Foro Italico since his third round exit in 2016 having finished runner-up the previous year for the fourth time, losing to Novak Djokovic in the final.

'Result doesn't matter'
"Regardless of what happens here, I just think it's good for me to play matches at this stage," said World No. 3 Federer, 37, before his first match today. He has a first-round bye as the number three seed, and will begin his tournament against either American Frances Tiafoe or Portugal's Joao Sousa.