Roger Federer has stepped up his clay-court training, and it showed Tuesday.

The top-ranked Federer beat Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-4 in the second round of the Rome Masters, a year after struggling to a three-set win over the Spaniard.

Federer converted breaks early in each set and faced only one break point, saving it midway through the first set by kicking a second serve wide that Almagro returned into the net.

"I wasn't too happy when I saw the draw come out because he's a great clay-courter and a very dangerous player on any surface," Federer said of Almagro, who won the clay-court tournament in Valencia the last two years.

"So to come through convincingly in two sets not being broken and both times racing away with the lead with an early break was perfect."

Federer and the other top seven seeded players had first-round byes.

Jose Acasuso of Argentina joined Federer in the third round after upsetting eighth-seeded Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia 6-4, 6-3. Ljubicic committed 33 unforced errors while Acasuso made only nine.

In the first round, former No. 1 Marat Safin overcame a shaky start before beating American qualifier Amer Delic 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic advanced when 11th-seeded Tommy Haas retired with a right shoulder injury. Stepanek was leading the 2002 finalist 6-3, 3-2.

Ninth-seeded James Blake eliminated Gael Monfils 7-6 (4), 6-3, 12th-seeded Tomas Berdych beat Jarkko Nieminen 6-4, 7-5 and 13th-seeded Richard Gasquet defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-1, 7-5.

Also, 2006 Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis saved all eight break points he faced to knock out 2004 Rome champion Carlos Moya 6-2, 6-3, and 2004 French Open champion Gaston Gaudio reached the second round by beating Mardy Fish 6-4, 6-4.

Blake's victory avenged a five-set loss to Monfils at last year's French Open.

"I feel like I've gotten better. Whether or not this one match proves it, I don't know. But I definitely feel like I've gotten better on clay," said Blake, who reached the semifinals of the clay-court tournament in Houston last month.

After losing the Monte Carlo Masters final to Rafael Nadal in April, Federer took only one day off before resuming training at home in Switzerland with hitting partner Jonathan Eysseric, a French junior No. 1.

Federer arrived in Rome more than a week ago for more clay-court training, and said he has worked out four to five hours per day.

"I'm trying to get into the best possible shape. I've been practicing a bit harder this year than last year," Federer said.

Federer even played doubles Monday, teaming with Stanislas Wawrinka in a loss to Nadal and Carlos Moya.

Like last year, Federer is entering the French Open with the chance to win his fourth Grand Slam in a row. He's never won the French, though, and won't declare winning Roland Garros his career priority at this point.

"Right now it is. I mean, can you put it over Wimbledon? I guess never," he said. "But the French Open is before Wimbledon, thank God, so I can really focus on the French."

Rome is a key clay-court warmup for Roland Garros, which begins May 27.

(China Daily via AP May 9, 2007)