INDIAN WELLS – Roger Federer and Kim Clijsters both faced tough challenges at Indian Wells on Sunday, but not enough to prevent the world’s second-ranked players from moving on.
Federer beat Igor Andreev of Russia 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) in a second-round match while Clijsters defeated Italy’s Sara Errani 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in their third round match in the $9 million dollar WTA and ATP Masters 1000 tournament. Federer fired four aces and won 92 percent of this first service points.
Federer has won all four career matches against Andreev, dating back to 2004 when they met in the final of a clay court tournament in Switzerland. In the tiebreaker Sunday, Federer set up match point by forcing Andreev hit a backhand long then clinched the win when Andreev pounded a forehand into the net. Federer advances to the third round where he will play Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela.
Clijsters has won Indian Wells twice in 2005 and 2003. Against Errani she had six aces but also committed 13 double faults in the one hour, 52 minute match. Clijsters next faces French 15th seed Marion Bartoli, who beat Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 6-2.
Clijsters has reached the final in each of her last five tournaments. She previously spent 20 weeks as the No. 1 player in the world and has a chance to regain the top spot if she makes it deep into the Indian Wells tournament.
Former world number one Andy Roddick got his tournament off on a successful note by beating fellow American James Blake 6-3, 7-5. Roddick and Federer were among three top 10 men competing on centre court Sunday.
World number three Novak Djokovic overpowered Andrey Golubev 6-0, 6-4 in the night match. Djokovic, who has appeared unstoppable this season, has won a career-best 15 matches in a row.
In other men’s second round matches, Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych eased past Lukasz Kubot 6-4, 6-1, Austria’s Jurgen Melzer rallied to beat Julien Benneteau, of France, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 and Canada’s Milos Raonic defeated American Mardy Fish 7-5, 6-4.
On the women’s side, fifth seed Francesca Schiavone reached the fourth round by beating Alize Cornet of France 6-2, 6-3 and sixth seeded Jelena Jankovic cruised past Julia Georges of Germany 6-2, 6-4. Former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic breezed past Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-2, 6-2.
