Holder Rafael Nadal provided more evidence that he is regaining his old dominance on clay after an injury-hit 2009 by cruising past Romanian Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-2 at the Rome Masters on Thursday. British world number five Andy Murray struggled, however, and lost 6-3, 6-4 to Nadal's Spanish compatriot David Ferrer.
Roger Federer's straight sets demolition of Romanian Victor Hanescu on Thursday served a timely reminder to the men who would be king that on centre court he still rules supreme.
Top seed Andy Murray cruised into the St Petersburg Open final with a 6-0, 6-3 thrashing of Spaniard Fernando Verdasco on Saturday.
Roger Federer advanced to the third round of the Madrid Masters on Wednesday with a 6-3, 7-6 win over Czech Radek Stepanek.
Frenchman Jeremy Chardy battled back from a set down to beat Romanian Victor Hanescu 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in Stuttgart on Sunday and clinch his maiden tour title in style. Ranked 43rd, the 22-year-old recovered from an error-ridden first set to whip Hanescu, still looking for his second title after winning in Gstaad last year, into submission with his thundering forehand and some clever volleying.