Nadal and Argentine partner Juan Monaco lost the doubles final to Italians Potito Starace and Paolo Lorenzi.

CNN: Knee injury continues to 'bother' Rafael Nadal

Nadal will be seeking the eighth doubles title of his career when he and Monaco play Italians Paolo Lorenzi and Potito Starace.

CNN: Rafael Nadal overcoming his 'bad feeling'

Three Italian players - Potito Starace, Daniele Bracciali and Alessio di Mauro - were hit with suspensions last year for betting on matches.

BBC: CHOOSE A SPORT

The Czech Republic are through to the quarterfinals after Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek beat Italy 's Daniele Bracciali and Potito Starace 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in Ostrava.

CNN: Federer loses again as Swiss crash out to U.S.

Swiss star Federer should have another easy ride in the second round when he faces unseeded Russian Evgeny Korolev, while Spaniard Nadal takes on another Italian in Potito Starace.

CNN: Federer and Nadal cruise as nemesis Soderling crashes out

Fourth seed David Ferrer defeated Italian Potito Starace 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in what he called "a very physical match" and 2004 champion Tommy Robredo overhauled Russian Igor Andreev 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

BBC: Nadal handed bye into semi-finals

Federer, whose return to action in Madrid after a two-month break ended with a third-round loss to Japan's Kei Nishikori, also eased through to the third round after beating Italian wild card Potito Starace 6-1 6-2.

CNN: Djokovic eases ankle fears with comfortable win in Rome

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 Simone Bolelli on Friday and then secured the decisive third point with a 6-3 6-0 6-4 win over Potito Starace on Sunday.

BBC: Spain and Czechs through to final