INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

Rome Tuesday Preview

Rome, Italy

World No. 1 Roger Federer makes his singles season debut on clay Tuesday against Latvian Ernests Gulbis in the third match on Centre Court. On Monday, Federer made his first appearance in doubles this year with countryman Yves Allegro as they reached the second round. In the first match of the day, Italian wild card Simone Bolelli plays German lucky loser Simon Greul for the first time. In the next match, World No. 2 and 2008 champion Novak Djokovic takes a 3-0 lifetime record against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. Djokovic also reached the final last year (l. to Nadal). In the final day session match, Federer plays Gulbis for the second time this year. In the opening week of the season in Doha, Federer prevailed in three sets in the quarter-finals. In the evening session, No. 4 seed Andy Murray looks to break a three-match losing streak as he takes on top Italian Andreas Seppi. Murray is 3-1 lifetime against Seppi and this is their first meeting on clay. On Pietrangeli, No. 9 seed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia plays former two-time ATP World Tour Champion Lleyton Hewitt, who holds a 3-1 lead, and No. 13 seed David Ferrer of Spain meets Evgeny Korolev of Kazakhstan for the first time.

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FEDERER 280 AND COUNTING – Roger Federer, who is in action Tuesday against Ernests Gulbis, is atop the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings for the 280th week. If Federer continues to rank No. 1 after Roland Garros, he will tie Pete Sampras’ mark of 286 weeks on June 7 and break the record the following week (June 14). Here are the players with the most weeks at No. 1: Pete Sampras (286), Federer (280), Ivan Lendl (270), Jimmy Connors (268) and John McEnroe (170).

ITALIANS OFF TO GOOD START – The four Italians in the second round in Rome is the most since 2005. If Simone Bolelli wins his first round on Tuesday, the five Italians in the second round will be the most since 1994.