Italy hold the edge in their tie in Turin after SimoneBolelli and Fabio Fognini won their doubles match against Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig on Saturday.
No. 1 Federer brushed aside unseeded Belgian Christophe Rochus 6-1 6-2 in the first round of the Qatar Open in Doha, while second seed Nadal was similarly untroubled in defeating Italy's SimoneBolelli 6-3 6-3.
The 19-year-old, the youngest player left in the men's singles, swept to a 6-3 7-5 6-2 victory over the Ecuadorian to set up a fouth round match against Michael Llodra after the Frenchman beat SimoneBolelli in straight sets.
Federer had only just flown back to Europe following his five-set defeat by Juan Martin Del Potro in Monday's US Open final, but beat SimoneBolelli on Friday and then secured the decisive third point with a 6-3 6-0 6-4 win over Potito Starace on Sunday.