Federer and Nadal March On as Isner Battles in Rome

By Erik Gudris

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia

(May 16th, 2012) Roger Federer almost was a no-show this morning in Rome.

That's because Federer was still feeling the aftereffects of some nagging yet minor pains he suffered last week during his title run in Madrid and wasn't sure if he would be up to playing this week. But after an early morning practice, Federer decided to go ahead and take on Carlos Berlocq in their second round match. Despite being broken once in the second set, Federer notched up a still comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win in just over an hour.

Federer, who is seeking his first ever title in Rome, will next meet former World No. 1 and 2001 Rome champion Juan Carlos Ferrero.

No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal, who was very vocal last week over the use of blue clay in Madrid, let his tennis do the talking today in his second round match against Germany's Florian Mayer. After Nadal cruised in the first set, Mayer put up more of a fight in the second set but Nadal never faced a break point as he went on to win 6-1, 7-5.

The match of the day on the men's side belonged to No. 9 seed John Isner taking on Italy's own Andreas Seppi that for a while looked like it might end up being an easy day for the American after he strolled through the first set 6-2. But Seppi fought back in the second set and forced a tiebreak that he won setting up a tight deciding set.

Cheered on by a partisan Italian crowd, Seppi stayed even with Isner throughout the final set until at 5-all, Seppi finally broke Isner on his 12th break point chance. Seppi went on to close out the nearly three-hour match 2-6, 7-6, 7-5.

The other seeded player to fall early was No. 8 seed and last week's Madrid semifinalist Janko Tipsarevic who was dismissed in straight sets by Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 6-1.

Other winners on the day included No. 7 seed and Madrid finalist Tomas Berdych who cruised over Lukasz Kubot 6-4, 6-1 while No. 10 seed Juan Martin Del Potro had little trouble with Mikhail Youzhny winning 6-4, 6-2.