ROME (AP) Rafael Nadal beat fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-2 in the third round of the Italian Open on Thursday, though there were still signs of the struggles he's had in his previous three matches.
Nadal got out to an early lead in the first set, but then handed Lopez back a break to make it 4-3 by missing a routine forehand into the net. Lopez then held at love as Nadal didn't even attempt to run down one shot that appeared within reach.
Fortunately for Nadal, the 40th-ranked Lopez was not particularly sharp either, and made three consecutive errors before Nadal landed a backhand cross-court passing shot to break again and win the first set.
Nadal broke midway through the second set to take control for good.