Djokovic and Federer ease into third round in Rome Masters

Rome, May 15 (IANS)

ROME, ITALY – MAY 14: Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a forehand against Potito Starace of Italy in their second round match during day three of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2013 at the Foro Italico Tennis Centre.

Top seed Novak Djokovic and second seed Roger Federer shook off their shock defeats in Madrid to ease past their opponents into the third round of the Rome Masters.

World No.1 Djokovic beat Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-3 Tuesday to avoid a repeat of what happened in Madrid, where he lost in three sets to Grigor Dimitrov at the same stage, reports Xinhua.

Federer, who fell in the third round in Madrid, took only 51 minutes to dispose of Italy’s Potito Starace 6-1, 6-2.

The 31-year-old Federer is attempting to win the elusive Rome title for the first time in 13 visits. Should he do so, he will be just three wins away from recording his 900th career victory.

South Africa’s Kevin Anderson ousted Marin Cilic, the 11th seed, 6-3, 7-6 also in the second round while 12th seed Nicolas Almagro and Tommy Haas (13th) went out in opening-round matches.

In the women’s draw Caroline Wozniacki, seeded 10th, lost to Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia 6-2, 4-6 and 6-7.

The 15th-seeded Ana Ivanovic failed to clear the first round too, losing to Urszula Radwanska of Poland 3-6, 6-2 and 2-6.