( CNN ) -- Roger Federer added fuel to the paternity leave debate as he crashed out of the Rome Masters just eight days after welcoming twin boys to his clan . Federer will be back on nappy changing duties sooner than he may have expected after losing 6-1 3-6 7-6 ( 6 ) to Frenchman Jeremy Chardy Wednesday . The French world No . 47 saved a match point to record his first ever victory over the Swiss 17-time grand slam champion . `` I think we both struggled to win today and at the end a shot here or there may have decided the match , '' Federer told reporters in Rome . `` But credit to him for fighting his way back into the match . '' It was the 32-year-old father of four 's first match back since the birth of Lenny and Leo -- brothers to twin girls Charlene Riva and Myla Rose . Federer had explained that wife Mirka , along with his coaching team , had encouraged him to make a quick return to work on the tennis tour on the eve of the Rome tournament . `` They told me to come here and play , '' Federer told reporters at Foro Italico . `` So I said 'OK , if you do n't want me around , I 'll go away ! I miss them a lot already . ' '' The world No . 4 , however , revealed plans that will dodge any future problems over time away from his twin boys . `` The plan is that they can come on tour , '' he added . `` At least we know how to handle kids on the road . `` I am aware it 's going to be a lot of work but at the same time it 's something I 'm really looking forward to . '' The Rome Masters is the final major warm-up event for the second grand slam of the year , the French Open . Looking ahead to the clay-court slam , which begins on 25th May , Federer commented : `` I did have my family but everything is under control . And I still feel good , body and mind . '' There were victories on the Rome clay Wednesday for Britain 's Wimbledon champion Andy Murray , Germany 's Tommy Haas and Russian Mikhail Youzhny . Spanish eight-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal opened his Rome title defense with a tough 7-6 6-7 6-2 victory over Giles Simon of France . In the women 's draw , Venus Williams had her comeback from illness curtailed by Spain 's Carla Suarez Navarro . After a sizzling first-round win Tuesday , the 33-year-old American was beaten 6-4 6-2 . The seven-time grand slam winner now has to manage her tennis career after the effects of Sjogren 's syndrome , a debilitating autoimmune disease . There were comfortable wins for world No.1 Serena Williams , Poland 's Agnieszka Radwanska , Australia 's Sam Stosur and Italians Francesca Schiavone and Sara Errani .
Roger Federer loses first match back since birth of twin boys last week . The Swiss father of four is beaten by Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in the Rome Masters . There are wins on the Rome clay for Andy Murray and Tommy Haas . American Venus Williams loses second round match to halt comeback from illness .