Stanislas Wawrinka rallies to beat Juan Monaco in Rome

Stanislas Wawrinka recovered from a set and a break down to beat Juan Monaco in the second round of the Italian Open this afternoon.

The eighth seed got off to a slow start as Monaco broke early, but the pair were soon level at 2-2 as Wawrinka hit back.

The Swiss then took his first lead by holding serve, but it was Monaco who grabbed the first set 6-4 by winning four of the next five games.

Monaco's momentum continued at the start of the second as he broke Wawrinka straight away before moving 3-1 in front.

Former finalist Wawrinka looked down and out but stormed back with a run of five straight games to win the set and level the match.

Wawrinka had another five-game winning streak in the decider as he surged away from 2-1 down to claim the third 6-2 and book his place in the last 16, where he will face either Dominic Thiem or 12th seed Gilles Simon.