ROME, May 10 (UPI) -- Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and David Nalbandian all were second-round winners Wednesday at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome.
It is fourth of nine ATP Masters Series tournaments in 2006.
The top-seeded Federer -- ranked No. 1 in the world -- ousted fan favorite Potito Starace of Italy, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2); second-seeded Nadal cruised past Italy's Filippo Volandri, 6-1, 6-2; and No. 4 Nalbandian of Argentina beat France's Paul-Henri Mathieu, 6-2, 6-4.
The victory was Nadal's 49th straight on clay. Federer improved his record for the year to 35-2. And Nalbandian, who won the Estoril Open last week, has captured his last seven matches.
Among other winners were No. 5 Andy Roddick of the United States and sixth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.
Among the losers were former world No. 1 Marat Safin of Russia, 13th-seeded Nicolas Kiefer of Germany, and No. 15 Thomas Johansson of Sweden.
