By DPA,
Indian Wells, California : Roger Federer lost the first set of his career against Victor Hanescu before recovering for a 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 win into the third round of the Indian Wells Masters, his first event since winning January’s Australian Open.
Top seed Federer came to the court with a 4-0 record against the Romanian against whom he stood 11-0 on sets dating to Davis Cup in 2004.
Federer claimed the title at the desert venue from 2004-2006 but went out in the semi-finals a year ago to Andy Murray.
“I was happy with the way I played, nNot having played for so long,” said the top seed Sunday. “I thought it was a good match overall.
“I missed maybe some of the clutch serving when I really needed it, but that’s something that happens.
“Victor did well to hang in there, because I was all over him for at least a set and a half.”
After sweeping the opening set in half an hour with five love service games, the contest tightened as Hanescu levelled through a tiebreaker. But the Swiss world number one cranked up his game to sweep the third and take the win in just under two hours.
Federer, who suffered in recent weeks from a lung infection, will next play Marcos Baghdatis a winner over Frenchman Arnaud Clement 7-6 (9-7), 6-1.
Murray joined fourth seed Murray in a tough start after first-round byes.
The Scot, who lost the Australian Open final to the Swiss, went straight to the practise court following his unenthusiastic 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Italian Andreas Seppi.
Murray got past Seppi for the fourth time in five meetings as the pair began with breaks of serve in the opening three games.
“Obviously I haven’t played that many matches lately,” said Murray of his “pretty scrappy” match.
“Even though it was relatively comfortable, there were still some tight moments,” said the Scot, who went directly to train after the victory. “It was just to go and hit a few more balls and get used to the conditions.”
Murray, playing for the first time since losing another listless contest to Janko Tipsarevic in Dubai – the Scot admitted he perhaps did not go all out – will next play American Michael Russell.
“There wasn’t a particular point in the match where I felt like in a lot of trouble. It was pretty breezy on the court. It’s just sometimes quite difficult to get into a rhythm,” said Murray.
Sixth-seeded French Open finalist Robin Soderling defeated Evgeny Korolev of Kazakhstan 6-2, 6-4.
Andy Roddick, the number seven, began his stand with a win over Lu Yen Hsun of Taiwan 6-4, 6-4.
Ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was untroubled by Australian qualifier Marinko Matosevic in a 6-1, 6-3 victory as the winds that plagued play on Saturday died down in the desert.
But French hopes suffered as 58th-ranked German Simon Greul surprised 12th seed Gael Monfils 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Two more seeds bowed out.
American James Blake accounted for number 13 Spaniard David Ferrer 6-1, 6-4 and Israeli Dudi Sela stunned Czech number 14 Radek Stepanek 6-4, 1-6, 6-2.
In women’s play, fourth seed Elena Dementieva defeated Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 6-4, 6-2, leading fifth seed Agnieskwa Radwanska, a 6-1, 6-0 winner over Gisela Dulko.
Australian Open semi-finalist Zheng Jie ended the hopes of Maria Sharapova 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, with the Russian complaining of arm pain and patchy play.
“The problem is trying not to be so up and down. It was just very inconsistent. I mean, that’s pretty much the bottom line.”
French number 11 Marion Bartoli crushed American Jill Craybas 6-2, 6-0, while Australian wild card Alicia Molik was equally ruthless in her 6-0, 6-2 defeat of Brit Elena Baltacha in 56 minutes.