Azarenka cruises at BNP Paribas Open; Federer, Nadal also advance

Indian Wells, CA, United States (4E Sports) – World’s no.1 and defending champion Victoria Azarenka moved on to the next round of the BNP Paribas Open after defeating Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 6-1 Saturday at Indian Wells.

It wasn’t an easy victory for Azarenka, who had to overcome a 4-1 deficit in the first set to keep her immaculate record alive in 2013.

Azarenka, who already won titles at the Australian Open and in Doha, guns for her third crown of the year.

The Belarusian netter will take on Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium. Flipkens is coming off a gutty 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Romania’s Monica Niculescu in the second round.

In other matches, former world’s no.1 Ana Ivanovic cruised to a 6-1 6-1 win over Taylor Townsend while Caroline Wozniacki survived Alize Cornet 6-4, 3-6, 6-3; Angelique Kerber bested Irina Begu 6-3, 6-2; Nadia Petrova downed Stefanie Voegele 6-2, 6-3 and Lucie Safarova edged Magdalena Rybarikova 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal all won their opening matches Saturday. Federer blasted Dennis Istomin 6-3, 6-3 while Nadal vanquished Ryan Harrison 7-6, 6-3.

Also advancing to the next round are David Ferrer, Giles Simon, Richard Gasquet, Lleyton Hewitt, and Andreas Seppi.

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