Top-seeded Roger Federer began his title defense campaign at Indian Wells in sublime fashion as he notched a straight sets victory over Chile's Nicolas Massu in the second round action on Sunday. The two-time defending champion claimed a single service break in the first set and powered through the second set tie-break to secure a 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory over the Chilean, who had beaten Federer in their last meeting in 2002. The 24-year-old Swiss next takes on the 30th seed from Belgium, Olivier Rochus, who overcame Swiss rising star, Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (4), 7-5. Earlier on Center Court, second-seeded Rafael Nadal survived swirling winds as he produced a solid 6-4, 6-4 victory over Czech Republic's Jan Hernych, to advance to the third round. The 19-year-old Spanish prodigy, took advantage of a poor start from the Czech world number 87 as he broke his very first service game to grab the first set before claiming the crucial break in the ninth game of the second set, to book a third round meeting against American wild card Mardy Fish. Fish upset 31st-seeded Filippo Volandri 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round and has never played Nadal before on the ATP circuit.
Rafael Nadal American veteran and the tournament's eighth-seed, Andre Agassi, who won the title in 2001, shook off a setback midway through his encounter with his compatriot, Paul Goldstein, to finally pull through 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Meanwhile, seeds number three, four and five, Andy Roddick, David Nalbandian and Nikolay Davydenko, all earned second round wins, however Davydenko was taken to three sets by Scottish youngster, Andy Murray. Other winners on Sunday include former world number one, Marat Safin, sixth-seeded Ivan Ljubicic, seventh-seeded Gaston Gaudio, 16th-seeded Richard Gasquet, 17th-seeded Tommy Robredo and 26th-seeded Tommy Haas. David Ferrer, Fernando Gonzalez and Robby Ginepri were among the seeds who suffered shocking defeats on Sunday. Anticipated third round match-ups on Monday include a showdown between Agassi and Haas and a repeat to last week's clash in Dubai between the Russians, Safin and Davydenko.
