NDIAN WELLS (USA): Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Stanislas Wawrinka won their opening matches on Saturday in the BNP Paribas Open.
Federer, the four-time champion seeded seventh, beat French qualifier Pail-Henri Mathieu. The Swiss star was coming off his 78th career title last week in Dubai.
”It’s important to win,” he said. ”It’s a lot different from Dubai. You have to force a bit more, but I’m satisfied.”
In a late match, the top-seeded Nadal rallied to beat Radek Stepanek 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.
The fifth-seeded Murray topped Lukas Rosol 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, and the third-seeded Wawrinka, playing for the first time since winning the Australian Open, beat Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 7-5.
Kevin Anderson and Tommy Haas also moved into the third round. Anderson spoiled two-time tournament champion Lleyton Hewitt’s bid for his 600th career match win, topping the Australian 7-6 (5), 6-4. Haas, who will be 36 on April 3, rolled to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Jeremy Chardy.
In women’s play, top-seeded Li Na beat Chinese compatriot Zheng Jie 6-1, 7-5, and fourth-seeded Maria Sharapova opened her title defence with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Julia Goerges.
Fifth-seeded Angelique Kerber dropped out, falling 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 to Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor.
Eighth-seeded Petra Kvitova, No. 11 Ana Ivanovic and No. 12 Dominika Cibulkova also won early matches, although third-seeded Victoria Azarenka tumbled out late on Friday night in her first match in more than a month, falling 6-0, 7-6 (2) to American Lauren Davis. (AP)
