Djokovic, Federer find top form

Novak Djokovic ... happy and back in winning form. Source: ANDREAS SOLARO / AAP

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer appear back on track after early losses in Madrid last week judging by their performances to reach the third round of the Italian Open..

Top-ranked Djokovic quickly overcame an early break to cruise past Spanish qualifier Albert Montanes 6-2 6-3 and second-seeded Federer routed Italian wild card Potito Starace 6-1 6-2.

Djokovic dropped his serve to fall behind 2-1 in the opening set but broke back immediately and took control from there against his 32-year-old opponent.

The six-time grand slam champion didn't appear to have any problem with his right ankle, which he twisted while representing Serbia in the Davis Cup in April then appeared to hurt again in a loss to Grigor Dimitrov at the Madrid Open last week.

"It was a good performance for a start, although I know I can do better,'' Djokovic said.

"My game has to be better for the next challenge. I didn't have a good week in Madrid but I came here early and did a lot of practice.''

Djokovic didn't practice for 12 days between winning the Monte Carlo Masters in April and the start of the Madrid tournament.

"I was playing with a degree of injury,'' he said.

"With Paris and London coming up I need to be 100 per cent.

"The positive thing is that my ankle is well and I'm playing without pain, and I did not want an injury in the most important part of the year.''

After a seven-week break from the tennis circuit, Federer returned to action last week and got his clay-court season off to a difficult start with a third-round loss to Kei Nishikori of Japan.

Against Starace, however, Federer never struggled, with the Foro Italico crowd's support for the local favourite proving useless.

"I feel the way I want to feel,'' Federer said.

"I'm happy that from start to finish I was able to control the outcome of the match.''

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