Anderson ousts Ferrer, Federer, Hewitt advance at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, California (AFP) –

Kevin Anderson of South Africa returns a shot to David Ferrer of Spain during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 9, 2013 in Indian Wells, California. Anderson pulled off the biggest upset so far at Indian Wells on Saturday, ousting fourth-seeded Ferrer 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the second round.

South Africa’s Kevin Anderson pulled off the biggest upset so far at Indian Wells on Saturday, ousting fourth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the second round.

Ferrer, ranked fourth in the world, was playing his first match of the combined ATP Masters and WTA Tournament, in which the 32 men’s and women’s seeds receive first-round byes.

Ferrer said the 37th-ranked Anderson just played better.

“He played good in important moments,” said Ferrer, who was unable to convert two break opportunities in the ninth game of the second set.

“He played more aggressive, more consistent than me. And in the third set I was a little bit tired and he was better than me.”

Defending champion and second seed Roger Federer raced into the third round with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Denis Istomin.

The Swiss great, whose triumph over American John Isner in last year’s final gave him a fourth Indian Wells title, needed just 57 minutes to subdue Uzbekistan’s Istomin, ranked 43rd in the world.

“I’m happy to start so strong,” said Federer, who was launching his defense after a first-round bye.

Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 9, 2013 in Indian Wells, California.

“Istoman can play really well, so I’m pleased I came out and played exceptionally well.”

Federer will face either Julien Benneteau of France or Croatian Ivan Dodig in the third round.

Benneteau stunned Federer in the quarter-finals last month in Rotterdam, where the Swiss was the defending champion.

Earlier, Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt rallied to topple American John Isner, ranked 15th in the world and a finalist here last year.

Hewitt, a former World No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion a decade ago, defeated the top-ranked US player 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-4 in a second-round match.

The 32-year-old Aussie will face 18th-seeded Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka for a place in the round of 16.

In the third round, Anderson will face Jarkko Nieminen. The 31-year-old Finn ranked 57th in the world ousted another seeded Spaniard, 29th-ranked Fernando Verdasco, by 6-1, 6-0.

In early women’s matches, Germany’s fourth-seeded Angelique Kerber reached the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu.

Seventh-seeded Australian Samantha Stosur used a break of serve in each set to dispatch US teenager Madison Keys 6-3, 6-4.

Stosur, the 2011 US Open champion, next faces China’s Peng Shuai, who defeated Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.