11.   Speaking of futility, Becker, one of the big favorites at the Foro Italico, is still seeking the first clay court title of his career.

12.   Thomas Muster opened defense of his Italian Open clay court title Tuesday with a straight-set win over the lowest-ranked player in the draw.

13.   Williams gathered her first career clay title last week in Hamburg, Germany.

14.   Williams, the younger of the two tennis-playing sisters, has never won a clay court title, but is enjoying a standout year.

15.   Williams gathered her first career clay title last week at Hamburg, Germany.

16.   His seven clay titles did him little good on the carpet against Chang.

17.   Andrei Medvedev, winner of two major clay court titles this season and a quarter-finalist at the French Open, continued to learn his trade on grass.

18.   Boris Becker, still bidding to win the first clay court title of his career, has a second-round match against awkward American Jared Palmer.

19.   Becker, still without a clay court title, was to face fellow German Bernd Karbacher, who put out Swedish veteran Stefan Edberg in the second round.

20.   Michael Chang, with four victories this season including a clay title at Orlando, is seeded second at the Foro Italico and starts with Argentine Hernan Gumy.