Tommy Haas fights off Andreas Seppi challenge to reach Rome round two

Tommy Haas progressed to the second round of the Rome Masters with a three-set victory over Andreas Seppi this afternoon.

The veteran German, seeded 15th at the tournament, raced through the first set 6-1 in just 25 minutes before home favourite Seppi hit back in the second.

Haas actually broke the Italian in the first game and was 2-0 up when Seppi found his groove to win six of the next eight games and force a decider.

After an even start to the third, it was Seppi who applied the first real pressure but couldn't take two break-point chances which would have put him 3-1 up.

Haas made him pay with two breaks late on that sealed a 6-3 success.

Next up for the 36-year-old is either Italian wildcard Marco Cecchinato or Dutchman Igor Sijsling.