Stan Wawrinka beats Benoit Paire to progress in Rome

The Swiss third seed took the first set 6-3 against Benoit Paire but the Frenchman roared back to take the second 6-1.

However, Wawrinka secured his place in round three and a meeting with America's John Isner by taking the third 6-3.

Number four seed Rafael Nadal progressed when his compatriot Nicolas Almagro was forced to retire with a knee injury, trailing 3-0 in the opening set.

Jack Sock, the number 13 seed from the United States, battled past Czech player Jiri Vesely 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7/1) to set up a match against Nadal.

Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic is also through after he beat German Tommy Haas 6-4 6-3, Japan's seventh seed Kei Nishikori saw off Spaniard David Ferrer 7-5 6-2 and Austrian eighth seed Dominic Thiem beat Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina ended the interests of British number two Kyle Edmund with a 7-5 6-4 win and will meet Nishikori for a place in the quarter-finals.

Alexander Zverev, the number 16 seed, beat Serbian Viktor Troicki 6-3 6-4. The German will next play home favourite Fabio Fognini, who knocked out world number one Andy Murray on Tuesday.