adminROGER FEDERER wasted little time in easing into the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday but his fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka became the first big name to be eliminated at Indian Wells.
The world No2 Federer launched his bid for a record fifth title with a clinical 6-4, 6-2 victory over Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman, which lasted a little over an hour.
The seventh seeded Wawrinka, however, was knocked out of the ATP Masters 1000 event, losing 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to the Dutchman Robin Haase.
Rafael Nadal, a three-times champion at Indian Wells, also advanced in comfortable fashion as he demolished the Dutchman Igor Sijsling 6-4, 6-2 in a match lasting just 72 minutes.
Federer treated the stadium court crowd to his familiar array of blistering forehands, clean-hit backhands, power serving and delicate drop shots as he broke Schwartzman once in the opening set and twice in the second.
“I think I did very well,” Federer said courtside after ending the match with a crunching forehand winner down the line. “It was a bit breezy and you had to be careful at times but it’s good to get a first win. It was important to get off to a good start. I just tried to stay focused and stay aggressive on returns, although that’s not always easy.”
Federer, who is competing at Indian Wells for a 15th time, will next face Italy’s Andreas Seppi, who stunned him with a four-set defeat in the third round of the Australian Open in January.
“I’m happy to play him again,” Federer said of the 30th-ranked Seppi, who booked his place in the third round at Indian Wells with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Romania’s Victor Hanescu. “I was very disappointed with the performance I had in Australia. I hope this time around it’s going to go better for me. I will be prepared, there is no doubt about that.” — The Guardian
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