Third-ranked Novak Djokovic showed no signs of illness yesterday when he cruised past Steve Darcis 6-4, 6-0 in his opening match at the Rome Masters.

In the Monte Carlo Masters, Djokovic pulled out of his semi-final match against top-ranked Roger Federer after falling behind 6-3, 3-2. Tests afterward revealed he had strep throat.

"I finished with my medication yesterday," Djokovic said. "So, hopefully, now I'll get better in the future."

Against the 49th-ranked Darcis, Djokovic broke at love in the final game of the first set, then rolled through the second.

"I feel good. I'm satisfied with the way I played today. The first match is always tough," Djokovic said in fluent Italian. "I feel at home in Italy. I like playing here."

In other second-round play, two seeded players were upset.

Coming off a runner-up performance in the Barcelona Open, fifth-seeded David Ferrer lost his concentration after the first set and lost 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to Radek Stepanek.

Spanish clay-court specialist Nicolas Almagro upset seventh-seeded David Nalbandian 6-4, 7-5.

Also, Peruvian qualifier Luis Horna eliminated José Acasuso 6-3, 7-6 (1).

The top eight seeds had first-round byes in this clay-court warm-up for the French Open, which begins May 25.

Djokovic led 18-11 in winners and also had 18 unforced errors, with Darcis committing 31.

In January, Djokovic won the Australian Open for his first Grand Slam title.

"The Australian Open changed my life," Djokovic said. "Now, I want to become number one this year."

Darcis, Belgium's top player, was participating in his first Masters Series event.

Nalbandian saved seven match points before finally surrendering to Almagro with a forehand that landed in the net.

Nalbandian was the runner-up to Carlos Moya in the 2004 final here, and reached the semi-finals in 2006, losing to Roger Federer.