INDIAN WELLS, California — Four-time champion Roger Federer was delighted to welcome back to the ATP Tour his long-time rival Rafa Nadal, a man he could face in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. Spaniard Nadal has slipped to fifth in the world rankings after being sidelined for seven months last year due to a left knee injury and is seeded to meet Federer in the last eight of the elite ATP Masters 1000 event in the California desert. “I only just saw him yesterday after my practice, I was really excited to see him again,” Swiss world No. 2 Federer told reporters at Indian Wells Thursday as the men's tournament began. Left-hander Nadal returned to the ATP circuit last month in South America where he competed in three relatively minor claycourt events, winning two of them after reaching all three finals. Federer returns to one of his favorite venues for the Indian Wells event but the Swiss maestro is still seeking his first ATP title of the year after producing contrasting form in his first three tournaments. “I played really well in Australia,” said Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam champion. “Rotterdam, I was disappointed because I thought I could have done better. I played so well the year before and I never really got going against Benneteau. “And in Dubai I was a bit unfortunate losing with three match points, and having to explain the loss when you feel you should be preparing for the final.” While Federer and Nadal, as seeded players, have a bye into the second round at Indian Wells, former world No. 3 David Nalbandian of Argentina advanced with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Spaniard Marcel Granollers in the first round Thursday. Also progressing were twice former champion Lleyton Hewitt, who battled past Czech Lukas Rosol 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in cold and blustery conditions, and fellow Australian Bernard Tomic, who overpowered Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-3. Hewitt, winner here in 2002 and 2003, will next meet big-serving American John Isner, who lost to Federer in last year's final at Indian Wells. “It's going to be a tough match,” former world No. 1 Hewitt said of his second-round opponent. “I've had the better of him in the past, then lost to him in a tight match in the final of Newport last year.” In the second round of the women's event, double champion Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia overcame Stephanie Foretz Gacon of France 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 and Romania's Irina Begu stunned Britain's Heather Watson 6-2, 6-4. Hantuchova will next face Australian Open champion and top seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus while Begu takes on fourth-seeded German Angelique Kerber. — Agencies
