Djokovic eases ankle fears with comfortable win in Rome

The 2008 and 2011 champion twisted his right ankle in a Davis Cup match last month before appearing to damage it again in last week's Madrid Open defeat to Grigor Dimitrov.

At Foro Italico however, Djokovic needed just 70 minutes to rally from an early break to beat qualifier Montanes 6-2 6-3.

The six-time grand slam winner says the display is a step on the road to performing at this month's French Open as well as at Wimbledon in June, according to CNN.

"It was a good performance, even though I know I can do better," Djokovic, who has reached the Rome final four times in the last five years, told reporters.

"I know my game has to be better in order to win my next challenge. But I'm heading in a good way because I didn't have a great week in Madrid and didn't have much practice.

"I came here very early; from Wednesday I spent a lot of hours on the court working hard, trying to prepare myself for what's coming up this week and also after the tournament in Rome -- two Grand Slams in less than a month's time.

"It's a very important period for all of us and I need to be physically, mentally, fresh and fit and I think I'm on the right way to be like that."

The French Open gets underway in Paris on May 26 and finishes on June 9, just over a fortnight before the start of the Wimbledon championships.

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