“Today we beat the No.1 players in the world, which we didn’t really expect, so that’s quite exciting.”

Top seeds and co-world No.1s Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta were beaten in straight sets by wildcards Jelena Jankovic and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 75 75. “Anastasia asked me to play when we were in Monterrey,” explained Jankovic, who was defeated by the 19-year-old Russian in the singles final there last week. “I don’t play doubles so often, and I thought it would be a lot of fun if I played. It’s good practice for my volleys and my serve. I’ve got to learn, you know, to play doubles better.

“Today we beat the No.1 players in the world, which we didn’t really expect, so that’s quite exciting,” she added. Jankovic and Pavlyuchenkova were particularly strong on serve, collectively making 80% of their first deliveries, and avoiding a single double fault. Even so, they managed to save just one of five break points faced; the critical difference was that the Serbian-Russian team created more break opportunities than their opponents, converting six of 12 chances.

Raonic upsets Fish to stay on track to meet Federer.

Canadian Milos Raonic, the breakout star from the first two months of the 2011 season, took advantage of his opportunities to knock out 2008 finalist and World No. 15 Mardy Fish 7-5, 6-4. He fought off eight break points, including three in the final game, and capitalized on all three of his chances. The 20 year old, who received treatment for a back muscle spasm during the match, said: “I’m hungry for the wins. I want to win as much as possible. I want to reach new limits. I want to keep improving. By winning today, especially here with a day in between, it’s a good thing. I have a chance to recover fully and sort of treat and now come back in two days sort of hoping to play better, hoping to serve better, and hoping to feel better.”

Novak Djokovic extended his unbeaten run to 15 straight matches after opening his BNP Paribas Open title bid with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Kazakhstani Andrey Golubev on Sunday evening in Indian Wells. The third-ranked player on the ATP World Tour raced through the opening set in a mere 21 minutes, limiting his opponent to six points total. He was broken in the first game of the second set, but got back on serve at 3-all and broke Golubev for a fifth time to claim the win in 59 minutes. “It was great start of the tournament, “ he said. “With those first matches you don’t know what to expect… I really tested myself today, because I had Golubev, who is coming up from big Davis Cup wins, and he’s a very good player. He showed that in the second set. He started hitting the ball from the baseline really hard. But I was in the control most of the match. I am really happy with the way I was playing. I want to keep on moving.”

Djokovic won the Indian Wells title in 2008 (d. Fish) and was a runner-up in ’07 (l. to Nadal). He fell in the fourth round last year to eventual champion Ivan Ljubicic. He next faces 31st-seeded Latvian Ernests Gulbis, who saved one match point down 6-7 in the second set tie-break to defeat Chinese Taipei’s Yen-Hsun Lu 6-7(1), 7-6(7), 6-1.

“I definitely improved as the match went on, and in the second set especially I played some good tennis.”

Ana Ivanovic stormed into the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic. Ana broke Zahlavova Strycova in the opening game, but was re-broken straightaway as she hit four double faults in her first service game. Luckily for Ana, this game turned out to be just a trifle as the Czech was unable to deal with Ana’s polished performance. Her confidence grew as the match progressed and she hammered forehands to all corners of the court. In the fifth game, the former world No.1 overturned a 40-0 arrears to break her opponent for a second time. She cruised from then on, winning five successive games to wrap up the opening set. The 23-year-old continued her dominance and served better as the match progressed. She dropped just two points on serve in the second set and built up the points patiently, waiting for the right moment to unleash her forehand.

It took the 19th seed just 64 minutes to progress into the fourth round, where she will face either compatriot and defending champion Jelena Jankovic or Julia Goerges from Germany.

Second seed Kim Clijsters made a surprising third-round exit at last year’s BNP Paribas Open, but avoided the same fate Sunday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden as she recovered for a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 win over Italian Sara Errani. After losing four straight service games to allow Errani to draw level, Clijsters went up the decisive break at 2-1 in the third set. The 27-year-old Belgian made her return to the desert in 2010 after a four-year absence. She won the title in 2003 and ’05 (d. Davenport both times) and was also a finalist in 2001 (l. to S. Williams). Clijsters, who has reached the final in all three of her main draw appearances this season, next plays France’s Marion Bartoli. The No. 15 seed defeated 21st-seeded German Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 6-2.

A rusty Sharapova squeaks thru, but Li Na and Kuznetsova are out.

In the last match of the night, No.16 seed Maria Sharapova made a winning return to the tour with a two-hour, 57-minute win under the lights against feisty Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues, missing out on two match points leading 75 65 but eventually finishing the match off in the third set, 75 67(3) 61. “I hadn’t played in a long time, and in the first set there were certain points where I was confused whether I should be more patient or go for it a little more,” Sharapova said. “As I started playing more, I started to get a better feel for her game and the way I was playing. I had chances to win in the second set but maybe played a little too risky; but I did a good job of stepping up in the third.” Sharapova was playing her first match in five weeks after struggles with a viral illness. “The last few weeks I was really eager to play. I had a long off-season, played a couple of tournaments, and Australia was my last one. It was unfortunate I couldn’t play the two or three tournaments starting in Paris. I got sick starting in Paris and had to fly home; but that’s just the way it goes.”

Li Na the No.7 seed, was the first of the seeds to go, falling to 0-3 since her famous Australian Open showing with a 46 63 63 loss to fellow Chinese Peng Shuai. After the two split sets, Chinese No.2 Peng completely pulled away in the third, racing to a 4-1 lead and closing out Chinese No.1 Li four games later.

Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded No.11, was the next to go, squandering a set point in the first set and five set points in the second set during a 76(4) 76(7) loss to young American wildcard Christina McHale. McHale’s win over the No.13-ranked Kuznetsova was her first completed win over a Top 50 player (her best previous completed victory was over a No.59-ranked Peng). “It’s definitely my biggest win. I’m so excited right now,” McHale beamed. “When I was down in the second set tie-break, I just tried to keep playing the way I was playing. When that last shot finally missed, I couldn’t believe it.”

Next up for McHale is No.18 seed Nadia Petrova, who battled past Sofia Arvidsson in a tight two-setter, 64 76(3). “Petrova is one of the top players. She plays really well,” McHale said. “I’m just taking it one match at a time.”

Donald Young defeats Andy Murray 7-6, 6-3!

In a major surprise American qualifier easily defeated Andy Murray at Indian Wells 7-6, 6-3. For Murray it was a continuation of his unfocussed match attitude that has been evident since the start of the 2011 season. His on court body language indicates his apparent lack of interest in playing tennis. He came into this event well rested, and in his own words he ‘was fit and ready’. The call for his old coach to come back and help him must be considered by those close to him.

“It’s by far the biggest win of my career,” said Young. “I’ve had chances before but this is the first I’ve come through and didn’t let my nerves get the better of me.”

A shaky start for Milos Raonic at Indian Wells.

Rising Canadian star Milos Raonic won the first Masters 1000 match of his career Friday, advancing to the second round of the BNP Paribas Open with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) win over Marsel Ilhan of Turkey. The 20-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., had some troubles in closing out the victory after letting an early break in the second set get away. The hard-serving Raonic eventually closed it out in a tiebreaker. Raonic is competing in his first Masters event outside of Canada, where he lost at the Rogers Cup in 2009 and 2010.

He faces a second-round test against American Mardy Fish, the 13th seed who lost the 2008 final to Novak Djokovic. A win over Fish could set up a 3rd round match against Roger Federer.

Indian Wells is the first of nine Masters 1000 tournaments, the ATP’s second level of top-tier events after the Grand Slam tournaments and World Tour finals. Raonic, ranked 37th in the world, managed a modest 10 aces against Ilhan. Ranked No. 120, the Turk dropped to 0-9 this year between ATP and Challengers levels. Raonic saved two of the three break points he faced while breaking three times in a contest lasting just under 90 minutes in blazing sunny conditions. Raonic needed just half an hour to comfortably collect the opening set. But after securing a break in the third game, he lost serve in the 10th game for 5-5. Raonic led the tiebreaker 5-1, but Ilhan fought back before falling to an ace out wide.

Serbian duo post early wins at Indian Wells.

 

Ana Ivanovic defeated Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-4, 6-2 to step into the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The 23-year-old showed great consistency and never lost serve during 71 minutes of play on the Stadium 1 Court. Ana started brightly and broke Date-Krumm in the opening game of the match. Although the 40-year-old veteran posed a continuous threat with her typically solid play, Ana held the advantage and sealed the set. The former world No. 1 made an impressive start in the second set, breaking the Japanese to love, followed up by a classy service game with big first serves and a number of piercing forehand winners. She broke once more in the fifth game and raced out to a 5-1 lead. With the end in sight, Date-Krumm wangled her first break points, but Ana was determined not to spend more time on court than necessary. She saved both break points and clinched the match. Ana will face world No.57 Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in round three on Sunday. Zahlavova Strycova recovered from a set down to upset 12th seed Petra Kvitova 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Jelena Jankovic defeated Coco Vandeweghe 6-2 6-1 to stay on course for a successful defence of her BNP Paribas Open title. The former world number one – currently ranked number six – is bidding to become the only woman to win at Indian Wells two years in a row since Martina Navratilova completed the feat in 1991. Australian Open winner Kim Clijsters, a two-time former winner, needed just 51 minutes to see off Alla Kudryavtseva 6-2 6-0.

Elsewhere in the second round there were wins for Vera Zvonareva, Francesca Schiavone, Yanina Wickmayer, Marion Bartoli, Sara Errani, Alize Cornet, Barbora Zahlavova Strycova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Del Potro is heading up the rankings.

Juan Martin del Potro’s comeback to the ATP World Tour gathered further pace as he completed a convincing win over Radek Stepanek in the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. Del Potro was restricted to just three tournaments last year because of a wrist injury, which was operated on in May. The former world number four began the season at 258 in the rankings – but the 22-year-old Argentinian has moved into the top 100 and the climb looks set to continue after a 6-4 6-0 first round defeat of Stepanek.

Elsewhere in the Miami event, Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic had few problems against Germany’s Tobias Kamke, winning 6-2 6-0, while America’s Ryan Sweeting was a 6-4 6-1 winner against Spain’s Marcel Granollers. Also booking places in the second round were Donald Young, Somdev Devvarman, Victor Hanescu, Michael Berrer, Tim Smyczek, Rainer Schuettler and Xavier Malisse, while South Africa’s Rik de Voest also progressed when Spain’s Pere Riba retired after losing the first set 6-4.

Sands & Oudin struggle into round two.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands defeated Vera Dushevina in the opening round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. Mattek-Sands called for the trainer while leading 6-4 4-3 and after a lengthy delay, including a visit from the WTA doctor, went on to beat the Russian 6-4 6-4 and set up a second round clash with 10th seed Shahar Peer.

Elsewhere, Lucie Safarova, Alla Kudryavtseva, Anastasija Sevastova, Timea Bacsinszky, Sara Errani and qualifier Alize Cornet all advanced, while there were also wins for Kimiko Date-Krumm, Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Alla Kudryavtseva, Sybille Bammer, Monica Niculescu, Coco Vandeweghe, Sania Mirza and Melanie Oudin.

American wild cards Vania King and Lauren Davis bowed out to Gisela Dulko and Zuzana Ondraskova respectively.

indian wells wrap-up.

Men’s Singles Champion.               Women’s Singles Champion.

Rafael Nadal.                                               Vera Zvonareva.

Men’s Doubles Champions.          Women’s Doubles Champions.

Andy Roddick/Mardy Fish.                   Vera Zvonareva/Victoria Azarenka.