(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

ROME (AP) Fresh off a title in Madrid and back at No. 2 in the rankings, Roger Federer defeated Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-4 in his opening match at the Italian Open on Wednesday.

Seeking to win one of only three Masters 1000 events he's never claimed, Federer dealt with the swirling wind inside the 10,500-seat stadium at the Foro Italico, coming to the net often to finish points.

Rafael Nadal, who was replaced by Federer at No. 2 with his Madrid Open victory Sunday, beat Florian Mayer 6-1, 7-5 to avenge a defeat in his only previous meeting with the 28th-ranked German.

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