Djokovic makes winning return, new dad Federer ready to play

ROME, May 14 (AFP): Novak Djokovic made a winning return nearly a month after suffering a wrist injury, starting the Rome Masters on a rainy Tuesday with a 6-3, 7-5 defeat of Radek Stepanek.
The second-round victory after a bye was the first match for the world number two Serb since losing a Monte Carlo semi-final on April 19 to Roger Federer while suffering with his right wrist problem.
Djokovic, a two-time champion at the Foro Italico, was to have played last week in Madrid but held off. He won in Rome with new coach Boris Becker looking on.
The Serb who is competing in Rome for an eighth straight year, won his 25th match here against five defeats. Three of his losses have come against Nadal, the top seed bidding for an eighth trophy in the capital.
The end against Stepanek was a struggle, comprising four consecutive breaks of serve before Djokovic took victory with a service return winner out wide in gusting wind after 97 minutes.
"On clay, the wind comes in your eyes. I could not get any rhythm at all," said Djokovic.
"Stepanek is a very experienced player and has such variety of shot.
Third-seeded Monte Carlo and Australian Open winner Stanislas Wawrinka won the first seven games in a defeat of Spanish qualifier Pere Riba 6-0, 6-3 with the Swiss taking just 50 minutes to go through with 50 winners.