Fighting champ Djokovic proceed at Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic set up his defence of the Indian Wells Masters succession title with a straight-sets conquest on Sunday, as world No.1 Rafael Nadal prepared to open his campaign. Serbia’s Djokovic seeded third behind Nadal and Swiss world No.2 Roger Federer in the $US5.4 million ($A8.2 million) occasion overcame 54th-ranked Argentinian Martin Vasallo Arguello 7-5 6-4 to achieve the third round.

Djokovic, who claimed his initial title of 2009 at Dubai two weeks ago, raised an early break in every set only to surrender his serve before breaking Vasallo Arguello once more. When the Argentinean sent a service return long, he precluded the match on a breezy stadium court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on his second match point.

Spain’s Nadal the 2007 champion who has additional promoted his hard-court recommendations with his Australian Open triumph this year, was to play German qualifier Michael Berrer in a second-round match. Confronting China’s Peng Shuai in the third round, women’s top seed Dinara Safina of Russia was also in action.

Safina, who has a chance to supplant the absent Serena Williams atop the world rankings by reaching the final of this WTA event, will be trying to avoid the upset bug that saw 15 of 32 seeded women eliminated in the second round, including second-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, No.3 Elena Dementieva and No.6 Svetlana Kuznetsova, both of Russia.

In other early matches, last year’s surprise men’s finalist Mardy Fish, who surprised Federer in the semi-finals in 2008, was beaten 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-1) by France’s Jeremy Chardy. Fourth-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva prepared it securely into the fourth round with a 6-3 6-1 win over Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic. Fish admitted that after last year’s heroics, it was deflating to lose his first match.

He said.”I will undoubtedly never forget last year, also never forget the semi-final match against Roger. Maybe it all evens itself out in the end,”

Now Chardy next faces Spain’s David Ferrer, runner-up to Djokovic in Dubai, who defeat US qualifier Todd Widom 6-4 7-5.