Roger Federer Sees Off Andreev Challenge

Roger Federer was back in action last night as he faced Igor Andreev for a place in the third round in Indian Wells.

While Federer has never lost to Andreev he is a player that has given the former world number one trouble - always dropping a set against the Russian.

And while he managed to notch up a straight sets win this time around it was not all plain sailing for Federer.

After a closely fought first set Federer took the final ten points to take the set 7-5. And it looked like he was in control at the beginning of the second when he secured an early break.

But Andreev dug deep and levelled the set at 2-2. Neither player could find a way through in the remaining eight games and a tie break was needed.

And it was Federer who stepped up as Andreev failed to push the match into a third and final set. Federer sealed a 7-5 7-7 (7-4) win.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match hew said: "I played really well. I had a good 10 minutes where I was able to get up 7-5, 2-0.

"After (that), he found his way into the match and it really became competitive. I played a really good tie break, which obviously makes things better towards the end."

Federer will now face Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela in the third round after he came through in three sets against Philipp Petzschner.

Chela was forced to battle back from a set down to win 4-6 7-5 6-2.

Andy Roddick was also in action yesterday as he was in an all American clash with former world number four James Blake.

Blake has seen himself slide down the rankings after a string of injury problems in the last twelve months.

And early break in the opening set saw Roddick take control as he wrapped it up 6-3 and while Blake did show some resistance at the beginning of the second Roddick was too strong as he won 6-3 7-5.

He now faces another American in the form of the big hitting John Isner as he came through against Ricardo Mello 6-3 7-6.

Nikolay Davydenko's woes continued as he crashed out of the competition at the hands of Stanislas Wawrinka.

The Russian has struggled to recapture the form the saw him win the ATP World Tour Finals in 2009 after suffering a wrist injury.

Despite serving for the match in the second set Wawrinka battled back from a set down to win 3-6 7-6 6-4.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw