Federer blows past Berloq on return to Rome clay

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 number two 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.

The Swiss third seed will next play Spanish veteran Juan Carlos Ferrero, champion in Rome 11 years ago. Federer beat Ferrero in a 2003 semi-final in Rome.

Federer is on the hunt for his first Rome title after losing the 2003 and 2006 finals. His victory left Berloq 0-8 against top 20 opponents as the Swiss charged out by winning the first 12 points of the contest.

Federer, 30, left it late to actually decide on playing Rome, hoping that his body would give him indications of how he was holding up after Madrid. He evidently got the right answer with his victory, bolstered by 16 winners in the first set and success on 12 of the last 15 points of the afternoon.

In women’s play, China’s Li Na moved on to the fourth round as third seed Agnieszka Radwanska lost to only her third different opponent of the season.

Eighth seed Li beat Iveta Benesova with ease, 6-1, 7-5, but Czech Petra Cetkovska caught Poland’s Radwanska with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 loss.

The winner attacked and went for her shots on a windy day on the clay at the Foro Italico, producing 44 winners and 38 unforced errors.

Cetkovska broke the seed sight times from 20 chances.

Of Radwanska’s eight defeats in 2012, six have come from world number one Victoria Azarenka, with their most recent meeting the Mad-rid semi-finals last week.

Li will face South African Cha-nelle Scheepers who beat New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic in three sets yesterday.

In other results, Samantha Stosur put out Sara Errani 6-3, 7-5 while Caroline Wozniacki fell to Anabel Medina Garrigues, with the Dane retiring trailing 6-4, 4-0.

Men’s singles: Nadal bt Mayer 6-1, 7-5.