Two-time women's champion Elina Svitolina has crashed out of the Italian Open, while a knee injury has forced Serena Williams to pull out of the tournament.
Fifth seed Svitolina lost 6-4,1-6, 7-5 against Victoria Azarenka in the second round, while Serena announced her withdrawal just before her match against older sister Venus.
Czech fourth seed Karolína Plisková also advanced to the third round along with Australian eighth seed Ashleigh Barty.
In the men's competition, world no. 5 Alexander Zverev suffered a shock 7-5, 7-5 defeat to Italian wildcard Matteo Berrettini, while Belgian David Goffin rallied from a set down to beat Stan Wawrinka 4-6, 6-0, 6-2.
Ninth seed Marin Cilic, seventh seed Juan Martin Del Potro, Australian Nick Kyrgios and Portugal's Joao Sousa are also through to the second round.
Neymar scored for the first time in 16 months after his penalty set Santos on the way to a 3-1 win over Agua Santa in the Paulista Championship on Sunday and the Brazil forward said he was happy to be playing again after a long injury absence.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, attended the fourth stage of the Al Salam Cycling Championship, which took place on Sunday at Al Marmoom Conservation Reserve.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim insists there is no running away from the club's plight after they suffered a 1-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, their 12th defeat in 25 Premier League games this season.