Top Players Beat Windy Conditions at Indian Wells; USTA Asks Players for a Refund

No. 3 seed Maria Sharapova also dealt with the gusty conditions in blowing past fellow Russian and No. 25 seed Dinara Safina 6-2, 6-3.

"(The wind) was very unexpected because in practice it wasn't that bad," Sharapova said. "But when you got on the court, on the stadium, it wasn't like it was in one direction. It was moving around."

Two 16-year-old wildcards continued the youth movement Monday with upsets in the Ukraine's Viktoriya Kutuzova (d. (17) Frazier) and American Jessica Kirkland (d. countrywoman Craybas).

Other seeded winners on the day were (6) Nadia Petrova (d. (31) Raymond from a set down), (7) Nathalie Dechy (d. (29) Stosur 7-6 in the third), (19) Fabiola Zuluaga (d. (13) Hantuchova), and (20) Mary Pierce (d. Vaidisova).

Scheduled for Tuesday in IW are (14) Tatiana "Hot Pants" Golovin vs. (4) Dementieva, (3) Maria "Grunt-o-meter" Sharapova vs. (19) Fabiola "The Fabulous One" Zuluaga, (1) Davenport vs. the 16-year-old (WC) Kutuzova, (5) Kuznetsova vs. (Q) Fujiwara, (Q) Kirilenko vs. (23) Martinez, Clijsters vs. (30) Linetskaya, and (WC) Jessica "Captain" Kirkland vs. (7) Dechy.

Roddick Breezes Past Novak; Coria, Henman, Agassi Win at ATP Indian Wells

Five Top 10 players navigated the 30- to 40-mph wind gusts and blowing sand Monday at the ATP stop in Indian Wells to post third round wins in (3) Andy Roddick (d. (26) Novak), (5) Guillermo Coria (d. (31) Srichaphan), (6) Tim Henman (d. (32) Melzer), (9) Andre Agassi (d. (21) Pavel), and (10) David Nalbandian (d. Bjorkman 6-1 in the third).

"It was a real struggle today," Henman said after dispatching a frustrated Melzer 7-5, 6-4. "It was a question as to who would get frustrated first. In those types of conditions it's very difficult to play without mistakes or without your opponent having opportunities. You have to accept that it will be ugly at times and find a way though it."

Roddick appeared to take a bit off his serve and groundstrokes in tailoring his game to the gusty conditions, dropping only three games against the Czech Novak.

"It was easier than I expected out there today," Roddick said. "I think with the conditions, it was pretty tough for everybody. I was lucky that I was able to play in the stadium. I don't think the wind was as bad in there. You know, I'm pretty happy with the way I hit 'em today."

ATP media manager Greg "The Remorseless Eating Machine" Sharko said the winds would have to kick up a little higher before play would be stopped.

"They would have to be 50 mph before play would be interrupted," Sharko said.

Other winners on the day were (12) Tommy Robredo (d. Enqvist 7-6 in the third), (17) Fernando Gonzalez (d. (WC) Blake, who blew a break in the first and won the second set at love en route to the loss), and (29) Nicolas Kiefer with the upset (d. (8) Gaudio, dropping only four games).

All five seeds in doubles first-round action Monday advanced in (1) Knowles/Nestor (d. Croatians Ancic/Ljubicic), Zimbabwe's (2) Black/Ullyett (d. Spadea/Volandri), Americans (4) Bryan/Bryan (d. Aspelin/Perry), Aussies (7) Arthurs/Hanley (d. Schuettler/Youzhny), and Frenchmen (8) Llodra/Santoro (d. Argentines Canas/Chela in three).

On tap Tuesday in IW are Llodra vs. (2) Hewitt, (1) Federer vs. Muller, (4) Safin vs. (30) Dent, (24) Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez vs. Fabrice "The Original Wizard" Santoro, (7) Moya vs. Ferrer in an all-Spanish, (22) Juan Ignacio "The Sprinkler" Chela vs. (14) Canas in an all-Argentine, Mathieu vs. Hernych, and Berdych vs. (13) Ljubicic.

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