ROME (Reuters) – A ruthless Rafa Nadal showed he was primed to win back his beloved French Open crown from Roger Federer when he whipped Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-1 6-3 in his opening match at the Rome Masters.

A day after the world number one had been felled at his first hurdle by Latvian Ernests Gulbis, Nadal left Kohlschreiber scrambling for answers on Wednesday as he began his charge toward a fifth Rome title in six years.

ROME, April 28 (Reuters) – A ruthless Rafa Nadal showed he
was primed to win back his beloved French Open crown from Roger
Federer when he whipped Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-1 6-3
in his opening match at the Rome Masters.

A day after the world number one had been felled at his
first hurdle by Latvian Ernests Gulbis, Nadal left Kohlschreiber
scrambling for answers on Wednesday as he began his charge
towards a fifth Rome title in six years.

ROME (Reuters) – A ruthless Rafael Nadal demonstrated that he was primed to win back the French Open crown from Roger Federer when he whipped Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-1 6-3 in his opening match at the Rome Masters.

A day after the world number one had been felled at the first hurdle by Latvian Ernests Gulbis, Nadal left Kohlschreiber a punched out wreck on Wednesday as he began his charge toward a fifth Rome title in six years.

ROME, April 28 (Reuters) – A ruthless Rafael Nadal
demonstrated that he was primed to win back the French Open
crown from Roger Federer when he whipped Germany’s Philipp
Kohlschreiber 6-1 6-3 in his opening match at the Rome Masters.

A day after the world number one had been felled at the
first hurdle by Latvian Ernests Gulbis, Nadal left Kohlschreiber
a punched out wreck on Wednesday as he began his charge towards
a fifth Rome title in six years.

ROME (Reuters) – Even a great champion like Roger Federer appreciates a reality check from time to time. The world number one got one on Tuesday when he was stunned by Latvian Ernests Gulbis to exit the Rome Masters.

“You can’t go 100 percent winning throughout the season,” the Swiss told a news conference after his error-strewn 2-6 6-1 7-5 second round defeat.

ROME (Reuters) – Roger Federer’s 2009 claycourt season ended in a blaze of glory, capturing an elusive French Open crown on an unforgettable Paris afternoon last June. His 2010 bow could hardly have been more dreary in comparison.

The world number one peppered Rome’s slick Foro Italico court with unforced errors before succumbing to 40th-ranked Ernests Gulbis 2-6 6-1 7-5 in the second round of the Rome Masters on Tuesday.

ROME, April 27 (Reuters) – Even a great champion like Roger
Federer appreciates a reality check from time to time. The world
number one got one on Tuesday when he was stunned by Latvian
Ernests Gulbis to exit the Rome Masters.

“You can’t go 100 percent winning throughout the season,”
the Swiss told a news conference after his error-strewn 2-6 6-1
7-5 second round defeat.

ROME, April 27 (Reuters) – Roger Federer’s 2009 claycourt
season ended in a blaze of glory, capturing an elusive French
Open crown on an unforgettable Paris afternoon last June. His
2010 bow could hardly have been more dreary in comparison.

The world number one peppered Rome’s slick Foro Italico
court with unforced errors before succumbing to 40th-ranked
Ernests Gulbis 2-6 6-1 7-5 in the second round of the Rome
Masters on Tuesday.

ROME (Reuters) – Regaining the world number one ranking is no longer a top priority for Rafael Nadal as he plans to cut back his punishing ATP schedule to preserve his health, the Spaniard’s coach said on Tuesday.

Nadal has dropped to third in the rankings, behind Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, after knee problems disrupted his 2009 season.

ROME, April 27 (Reuters) – Regaining the world number one
ranking is no longer a top priority for Rafael Nadal as he plans
to cut back his punishing ATP schedule to preserve his health,
the Spaniard’s coach said on Tuesday.

Nadal has dropped to third in the rankings, behind Roger
Federer and Novak Djokovic, after knee problems disrupted his
2009 season.