Rome - Stanislas Wawrinka saved energy with an efficient effort to post a win into the second round of the Rome Masters 6-3, 6-4 over Russian Igor Kunitsyn on Monday.

The Swiss, who lost the title match a year ago to Novak Djokovic but earned a Top 10 place for his efforts on the clay of the Foro Italico, said he did what he needed to win.

"It was enough today to win, I'm very happy to play around an hour for two sets."

Rome - Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko would be told during his meeting with Italian leaders Monday to respect human rights, Italy's foreign minister has said ahead of the meeting. Lukashenko's visit to Rome which includes a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, is seen as a diplomatic breakthrough for the former Soviet republic which for years has been isolated because of government persecution of political opposition and independent media.

Rome - Brazil star Kaka converted two spot kicks Sunday to help AC Milan beat 10-man Palermo 3-0 and move to second place above Juventus, who were held to a 2-2 draw at bottom side Reggina. Serie A leaders Inter Milan hold a seven-point lead on city rivals Milan ahead of an away game to Napoli with six games left.

A 2-0 defeat at struggling Bologna halted Genoa's quest for a last available Champions League berth that is currently available to fourth-place Fiorentina after their 4-1 crushing of Roma on Saturday.

Rome - Pope Benedict XVI has canonized five new saints - including the heroic 14th century Portuguese General Nuno de Santa Maria Alvares Pereira. Thousands of Portuguese faithful travelled to Rome to hear the pontiff's announcement at St Peter's Square on the military man turned friar and four others Sunday.

During the ceremony, Benedict renewed his appeal for a just society and solidary in the struggle against economic inequality affecting the better part of the world.

Rome - Alberto Gilardino scored a brace Saturday as Fiorentina crushed 10-man Roma 4-1 in a Serie A match that weakened the Rome side's chances to play the next Champions League. Fiorentina moved up to fourth place and currently occupy the last available Champions League berth. Genoa, who play Sunday at demotion-threatend Bologna, trail one points adrift, while Roma lie six points behind Fiorentina with five game left.

Rome - Gaetano D'Agostino's brace Saturday sealed Udinese's 2-1 win over hosts Chievo, who remain eight points above the relegation zone before the four teams they lead play respective games on Sunday. D'Agostino converted a spot-kick on 34 minutes after Colombian Mario Yepes floored Fabio Quagliarella and scored the winner in injury time off a cross from Quagliarella.

The hosts from Verona had themselves to blame for two mistakes from midfielder Luca Rigoni, who lost control of the ball in the area on 33 minutes and repeated his blunder shortly before the break.