I am a better player now: Rafael Nadal

Updated on: 14 March,2011 10:21 AM IST |
AFP |

Top ranked Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki eased through their Indian Wells openers yesterday, but Australian Open runner-up Andy Murray bit the dust in the Californian desert

Top ranked Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki eased through their Indian Wells openers yesterday, but Australian Open runner-up Andy Murray bit the dust in the Californian desert.

Nadal defeated South African Rik de Voest 6-0, 6-2 while Wozniacki rolled over American wildcard Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 at the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters 1000 event.

"I'm a better player now. The worst thing is I am eight years older," said the top seed Nadal, who had a bye in the first round.

He will next tackle Ryan Sweeting who beat Argentine 27th seed Juan Monaco 6-1, 0-6, 6-1.

American qualifier Donald Young shocked World No 5 Murray 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 with the Scotsman looking rusty in his first career meeting against his 21-year-old opponent.

"I started the match well but then when it got close I didn't do anything to lift myself," said Murray.

Spain's sixth seed David Ferrer was also sent crashing, falling in the second-round to unseeded Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.

India's Somdev Devvarman defeated Marcos Baghdatis 7-5, 6-0.

Devvarman worked out 14 winners to race away with the match against Baghdatis.

Roger Federer, seeded number two, plays his first match Sunday against Russia's Igor Andreev.

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