A day after the world No. 1 had been felled at the first hurdle by Latvian Ernests Gulbis, Nadal left Kohlschreiber a punched out wreck on Wednesday as he began his charge toward a fifth Rome title in six years.

On Tuesday Federer was adamant that his Rome setback would have little impact on his chances of defending his Roland Garros crown as he still had a month to find his best tennis before the claycourt major.

But Nadal fired an early warning that he was once again ready to trample over anyone who stands in his way on his favorite surface after knee problems disrupted his 2009 season.

Nadal's second-round display was not flawless but that provided little consolation for Kohlschreiber.

The four-times French Open winner had it all his own way in the first set, when Kohlschreiber did not help his cause with some wild forehands.

The German put up more resistance in the second set and had a break point in the sixth game.

But Nadal stood his ground before breaking serve twice to wrap things up and set up a third-round meeting with Romanian Victor Hanescu.

Swedish fifth-seed Robin Soderling, who handed Nadal his first ever defeat at the French Open last year, is on course to meet the Spaniard in the quarterfinals after dispatching Italian wild card Paolo Lorenzi 6-1, 7-5.
 
Henin fights way to victory

In Stuttgart, Germany, former world No. 1 Justine Henin had a tough workout as she battled past Germany's Julia Goerges to book her place in the second round of Stuttgart's WTA tournament on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old Belgian, wearing a splint to protect the broken finger she suffered in training last week, needed 53 minutes for the first set after Goerges forced a tie-breaker.

The four-times Roland Garos winner then held her nerve to take the set despite a furious protest from her German opponent over a line-call which left her remonstrating with the umpire long after the point was awarded against her.

After her tough first set work-out, Henin then only needed exactly 30 minutes to take the second set for a 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 victory.

"She was in a position to win the set, I just tried to keep focused," said a relieved Henin who won this tournament in 2007.

"I was tired in the first set, but I finally managed to relax and felt better on court. It was a tough match."   The right-hander broke the little finger on her left hand last week while preparing for Belgium's Fed Cup win over Estonia and expects to wear a splint on the injury until next month's French Open.

In the second round Henin, playing on a wildcard entry, will face compatriot Yanina Wickmayer, who saw off Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-3, 6-3.

"We were together a few days ago for the Fed Cup match and I am looking forward to playing her very much," said Henin, having ended her 18-month hiatus from tennis in January.

Earlier, fourth-seed Jelena Jankovic needed just over an hour to breeze into the second-round with a straight sets win over Gisela Dulko.

Jankovic is on course to meet last year's beaten finalist Dinara Safina in the quarterfinals, but first faces Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova in Thursday's second round.

Jankovic blasted two aces and took the first set after just 32 minutes against the Argentinian before slowing briefly in the second, but was in firm control for a 6-2, 6-2, win in 75 minutes.

"It went well for the first match, they are always tough — she is a hard opponent to play, especially on clay," said Jankovic.

"The first set went well, I started losing my concentration a bit in the second, but overall it was a good match for me in the first round."   Australia's Samantha Stosur, who is ranked tenth in the world and is seventh seed after winning the Charleston tournament recently, also had few problems as she knocked out France's Marion Bartoli in just 65 minutes.

Stosur, who faces Romania's Alexandra Dulgheru in the second round, hit three aces in the second set and was presented with few problems by Bartoli.

Fifth-seed Agnieszka Radwanska made a second-round exit when she was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2 by Israel's Shahar Peer who will now face either Safina or Hungary's Agnes Szavay.