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INDIAN WELLS: Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, returns to Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament. —AP Niculescu books Serena showdown

INDIAN WELLS: Monica Niculescu rolled over arrived in Indian Wells Wednesday less than Wednesday, British number one Heather everything else. Aleksandra Krunic 6-2, 6-1 to book a second 24 hours after competing in an exhibition Watson, and Irina Falconi The 27-year-old Serbian star is aiming for round clash with Serena Williams at Indian match against Grigor Dimitrov at Madison emerged victorious. Rising star Watson took back-to-back Indian Wells titles to go with his Wells, where the American returns this week Square Garden in New York. on former top 15 player Julia Goerges, of fifth title won earlier this after a 14-year hiatus. Federer, who won his seventh title in Germany, in the first main draw contest of the year. Reigning Australian Open champ Williams Dubai earlier this month, will begin his Indian tournament. He has two Wimbledon crowns and one US is one of 32 seeded players who received a Wells campaign with a second round match Watson appeared to be headed for a Open but has yet to lift the trophy at Roland first-round bye at the joint ATP Masters and against either Jerzy Janowicz or Diego straight-set victory by compiling a 6-4, 5-3 Garros, having finished runner-up twice. WTA tournament in the California desert. Schwartzman. The world number two said he lead. But Goerges rallied to win five games in “The highest priority is the ,” Top seed Williams is competing in the is hitting the ball well and is feeling good a row to take the second set and go up a he said Thursday at the Indian Wells Tennis tournament for the first time since her self- about his chances this week. break at 1-0 in the third. Still, Watson Garden stadium. “The French Open of course imposed exile began in 2001. She claimed “I don’t feel like I have that many bad days regrouped to beat Goerges 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. is the I’ve never won. But I’ve had two singles titles in 1999 and 2001. anymore,” Federer said. “Maybe sometimes American wild-card Falconi beat Croatia’s a lot of good tournaments there. I played a “It’s exciting,” Serbia’s said of you come out and it’s not working. That’s Ajla Tomljanovic 7-6 (8/6), 6-4. The 24-year- couple times the finals there, got a step clos- Williams’ return to the event. “Obviously you something that happened very few times in old Falconi was one of seven Americans who er.” Djokovic said he doesn’t agonize over his want to compete against the best.” the years where I was very dominant. took the court Wednesday. defeats in the final of the French but rather This will mark the first career meeting Otherwise, I feel like I am playing very well.” Among other matches, Germany’s Barthel sees them as a learning experience. “I use the between Williams and Romania’s Niculescu Federer said he is going to use the time outlasted Kristina Mladenovic of France 6-3, 5- losses as a way to grow mentally, physically when they square off Friday night on stadium between now and his first match to adjust to 7, 6-4, of Russia beat qualifier and emotionally as a player so I can under- court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. “I the playing surface. “I was always going to Kateryna Kozlova of Ukraine 6-3, 6-3 and qual- stand what I need to do better,” he said. He don’t really know what to expect because we come here and make sure the first few days I ifier Daria Gavrilova of Russia surprised Silvia said Thursday he doesn’t want to dwell on haven’t played before,” Niculescu said. “But get used to the courts. I had a bit of a slow Soler Espinosa of Spain 6-3, 6-4. whether it will happen this year but he plans obviously I know she has a lot of power, and I week last week after Dubai, so I think the next Meanwhile, world number one Novak to show up in top condition and ready to go know I’m going to run a lot. I’m just going to few days are going to be important for me,” Djokovic says as much as he would like to win the distance. “It’s still too early to talk about it. play my game.” he said. a fourth Indian Wells title, claiming the elusive The difference to those goals and approach is I Four-time men’s champion Roger Federer In other first round women’s matches on French Open crown is taking priority over won’t put too much pressure on myself. —AFP