Federer falls WORLD number one Roger Federer suffered a stunning 7-5 6-2 upset defeat by Argentine Guillermo Canas in the second round at Indian Wells to fall just short of the all-time consecutive wins record. Federer, seeking his fourth Indian Wells Masters Series title in a row, received treatment for blisters at the end of the first set and looked sluggish throughout as his 41-match winning streak was ended by the world number 60. The Swiss 10-time grand slam champion, whose last defeat was inflicted by Briton Andy Murray in Cincinnati in August, was hoping to break the professional era record of 46 successive wins set by Argentine Guillermo Vilas. Federer said the pressure of closing on another record had not contributed to his defeat. "It's no pressure at all because I take it match by match," Federer told reporters. "I'm concerned about winning my first round match against a lucky loser. "It just shows you how tough it is. Today was just a grind for me from the start. First-round match is always difficult, but I've had an incredible run, not losing in the first round for over two years. So I'm really happy about that. Sooner or later it had to happen, so it's OK." Federer celebrated his 161st consecutive week as world number one last month, breaking the 30-year-old record of American Jimmy Connors. "It's great to beat the number one, I feel perfect," the 29-year-old Canas told reporters. "I dream about this but I didn't expect it. I have confidence in my game but I know it's gonna be tough." Canas outplayed Federer from the baseline, never allowing the top seed to control the centre of the court and sealing victory with a powerful inside out forehand. Canas, who achieved his career-high ranking of eighth in 2005, returned to the tour last September after serving a 15-month suspension for a doping offence. He lost in last round of qualifying for the tournament to German Alexander Waske, but earned a place in the draw when Belgium's Xavier Malisse withdrew due to injury. No Lewis return WLADIMIR Klitschko defended his IBF heavyweight belt with a second-round stoppage win over American Ray Austin. The Ukrainian stunned his opponent with three strong left hooks to the head which dropped him in Mannheim. The mandatory challenger scrambled back to his feet but still was counted out 90 seconds into the round. Klitschko, who improved to 48-3 (42 KOs), said: "I prepared hard. I'm happy and I hope the crowd is happy. It was short but it was heavyweight boxing." Meanwhile, former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has told Vitali Klitschko to his face that he will not end his retirement for a re-match. The duo appeared in the ring together ahead of Wladimir Klitschko's fight in Germany. Vitali, who ended his own retirement earlier this year, said: "I am sure a lot of people would like to see (a re-match) so let's get in on." But Britain's Lewis told the crowd: "I am not coming back to the ring. I am a family man and very happy." In his last fight, Lewis beat the Ukrainian in Los Angeles to retain the WBC heavyweight title in 2003. Dehiba positive HIND Dehiba's B-sample shows the French 1,500 metre record holder has tested positive for EPO. Dehiba was arrested in January after vials containing human growth hormone were found in her luggage. After her arrest the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) said she would be tested and traces of the banned blood-boosting drug erythropoietin were found in an A-sample from the athlete tested by a laboratory outside Paris. The 27-year-old Dehiba, her husband and coach Fodil and a third athlete whose identity was not revealed were arrested at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris after returning from a training session in the United States. The three were released but Dehiba's husband was placed under investigation for allegedly trafficking in banned substances and faces charges. Wrong choice RUSSIAN hammer throw champion Ilya Konovalov has been banned for two years after a positive test for a stimulant. "Konovalov said he had taken the wrong pills but we had no other choice but to ban him," head athletics coach Valery Kulichenko said, without identifying the stimulant. Konovalov, 36, has been Russia's leading hammer thrower for nearly a decade, taking part in the last three Olympics and winning bronze at the 2001 world championships in Edmonton. He became the latest high-profile Russian athlete to fail a drugs test. In August, Olympic women's discus champion Natalya Sadova also received a two-year suspension after a positive test for the steroid methandienone. At the same time, two French middle distance athletes, Latifa Essarokh and Nordine Gezzar, were suspended for two years after testing positive for banned substances last year.
