INDIAN WELLS, California — While Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal won their opening matches in straight sets Saturday, world No. 4 David Ferrer became the first top seed to make an early exit from the BNP Paribas Open. Spaniard Ferrer, a winner of two ATP titles this year who is known for his speed across the court, was ousted 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 by big-serving South African Kevin Anderson in the second round at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Four-time champion Federer, however, wasted little time in pounding Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 6-2, 6-3 with a ruthless display of seemingly effortless movement and razor sharp shot-making. In a heavily anticipated evening encounter, Spaniard Nadal overcame early resistance from American Ryan Harrison to win 7-6, 6-2 in his first match on a hardcourt surface in 346 days, following a left knee injury. Nadal, a two-time former champion at Indian Wells, did not appear to be in any discomfort after being sidelined for seven months last year and he dominated the second set before wrapping up victory in just over an hour and a half. “I am satisfied to be in the next round,” said the Spanish left-hander who has enjoyed a successful tournament run on clay in recent weeks, winning two ATP titles after reaching three finals. Federer, who beat American John Isner 7-6, 6-3 in last year's final at Indian Wells, was in peerless form Saturday, blending a series of crunching groundstrokes with his typically dominant net play to break Istomin's serve twice in each set. Federer will next play Croatian Ivan Dodig, who eased past Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-4, 6-2. Earlier, fourth-seeded Ferrer was overpowered by the towering Anderson in the final set as the South African booked his place in the third round after a contest lasting just under two hours. Anderson, who broke Ferrer's serve once in the second set and twice in the third, will next face Finland's Jarkko Nieminen, who crushed Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-1, 6-0 earlier in the day. In other matches, Latvia's unpredictable Ernests Gulbis stunned ninth-seeded Serbian Janko Tipsarevic 6-2, 6-0, while sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych advanced with a 6-2, 6-4 win against Germany's Mischa Zverev. Tenth seed Richard Gasquet of France beat Australia's Bernard Tomic 7-6, 6-2 and twice former champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia upset 15th-seeded Isner 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. Women's top seed and defending champion Victoria Azarenka survived a shaky start to make it safely into the third round with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over two-time former champion Daniela Hantuchova. Azarenka fell behind 4-1 in the first, but surrendered just one game from there. Azarenka will next face Belgian Kirsten Flipkens, who earlier scraped past Romania's Monica Niculescu 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Former US Open champion Samantha Stosur eased into the third round with a commanding 6-3, 6-4 victory over American teenager Madison Keys, while fourth-seeded German Angelique Kerber swept past Romania's Irina Begu 6-3, 6-2. Eighth seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark battled past Frenchwomen Alize Cornet 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 and 2008 champion Ana Ivanovic of Serbia hammered American wildcard Taylor Townsend 6-1, 6-2. In earlier matches, 10th-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova eased past Swiss Stefanie Voegele 6-2, 6-3 and Belgian Yanina Wickmayer beat Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. — Agencies
