Tennis ace Federer coasts past Canas

ROME (AFP) - Roger Federer sailed through to the third round of the Rome Masters Series on Tuesday with a straight sets win over his bogey player from 2007, Guillermo Canas.

Federer, the top seed, made light work of Canas in what was his opening game of the tournament at the Foro Italico, winning through 6-3, 6-3 to erase the memories of three losses, including two last year, to the Argentinian.

"It wasn't easy meeting Guillermo in the first round," said Federer.

"In the past it was often tough. But I played well today I had a good rhythm.

"I was good physically and tactically. I had zero problems."

The Swiss world number one produced a solid game which gave Canas few opportunities to pull in front, the Argentinian being allowed only one break of service in the 1hr 23min tie.

And Federer admitted that he was finally beginning to like clay, the surface of Roland Garros the only Grand Slam missing from his collection.

"When I started out on the circuit it was a really difficult surface for me. I think I lost my first 11 or 12 matches on clay," he said.

"But now I really like playing on clay. I really enjoyed today."

But the road to the final is still long for Federer who lost the final in Monte Carlo just over a week ago to Spaniard Rafael Nadal 7-5, 7-5.

He next meets the winner of the second round tie between Italian Potito Starace and Ivo Karlovic of Croatia.

Karlovic ousted France's Paul-Henri Mathieu, a semi-finalist in Munich last week and the 15 seed, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, in their first round match.

Earlier Andy Roddick of the United States, the sixth seed, also coasted into the third round, with a 6-1, 6-4 win over compatriot Mardy Fish.

Chile's Fernando Gonzalez, a finalist here last year, needed 2hr 39min to win his first round against Serb Janko Tsiparevic 3-6, 7-6 (7/0), 7-6 (8/6).

Title favourite Nadal, fresh from winning a fourth straight Barcelona title at the weekend, opens his bid on Wednesday against compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero.

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