By DPA,
Rome : Roger Federer continued a steady build-up Tuesday as he settled an old score on clay while holder Rafael Nadal learned about his second-round opponent at the Rome Masters.
Top seed Federer inflicted revenge on one-time spoiler Guillermo Canas with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of the Argentine who beat him back-to-back a year ago.
Nadal, who begins later Wednesday after winning a fourth straight Barcelona title at the weekend, will play fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero after the former French Open winner defeated German Nicolas Kiefer 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal is hoping to have made another recovery as he enters his third straight week of clay play after winning Monte Carlo and Barcelona – both for the fourth straight time.
“I’ve won two important events but now I’m ready to focus on Rome,” Nadal said .”I remember finals in 2005 and 2006 which seemed lost, but which I won (against Guillermo Coria and Federer).”
Meanwhile Federer was satisfied with his first match win against Canas, who had beaten him on successive weeks in spring 2007 in the US.
“It wasn’t easy meeting Guillermo in the first match,” said the Swiss. “But I played well today, I had a good rhythm. I was good physically and tactically.
“I had zero problems.”
Federer is building his season towards a title at Roland GarrOs, the only Grand Slam he’s never won.
“I lost the first 11 or 12 matches of my career on clay,” he said. “But now I really like playing on clay. I really enjoyed today.”
“I’m continuing to play well here, I’m on a good run. I had a good final in Monte Carlo against Nadal. Rafa remains the guy to beat, he’s played extraordinarily over the past few seasons.
“But I hope I can get into position against him and close the deal this year.”
Andy Roddick extended his dominance over one-time high-school housemate Mardy Fish, administering a 6-1, 6-4 thrashing as the pair met for the first time on clay.
Roddick, seeded sixth, had won seven of the pair’s previous eight on hard court, all but one played on home courts.
“I feel pretty good,” said the Roddick. “Mardy is an attacking player, and if he was going to attack, I wanted to make him do it from deep in the court. I played pretty solid.”
The normally big-hitting Roddick was limited to just four aces and saved the only break point that he faced.
“I enjoy the challenge of clay, it’s obviously probably my toughest surface,” said Roddick. “That makes the wins that I get much more satisfying.
“What do I dislike? Obviously it’s slower. It takes away a lot of my weapons which isn’t fun,” he added.
Chile’s 2007 finalist Fernando Gonzalez overcame Serb Janko Tipsarevic 3-6, 7-6 (7-0), 7-6 (8-6) while Spanish 14th seed Tommy Robredo began with a win into the second round, dismissing Argentine Juan Chela 6-4, 6-1.
Croatians Mario Ancic and Ivo Karlovic advanced. Nicolas Lapentti stunned Filippo Volandri 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 6-2 a year after the Italian upset Federer in the third round.