Federer wins in Rome; Kerber, Azarenka tumble

10:57 AM ET

ROME — Roger Federer put his full array of shots on display in a 6-3, 7-5 win over Alexander Zverev in the second round of the Italian Open on Wednesday.

After withdrawing from last week’s Madrid Open with lower back pain, Federer looked sharp from the start against the 44th-ranked Zverev, using his backhand slice drop shot especially well.

“I was expecting to lose in straight sets today,” Federer explained. “That was the mindset going in, so to win in straights is actually a really big surprise to me.”

Editor’s PicksGarber: One and done for Roger Federer in Rome?

Despite a straight-sets win in Rome on Wednesday, Roger Federer isn’t sure whether his cranky back will allow him to continue playing this event, which is bad news heading into the French Open.

“I don’t know how I’m going to feel tomorrow. So, yeah, I mean I hope [I’m going to play a second match]. It’s baby steps right now. So to even think of tomorrow is already a big ask.”

The 19-year-old Zverev, considered a potential future …

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