Indian Wells, March 10:

Top-ranked Maria Sharapova opened her title defense in the Pacific Life Open with a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Michaella Krajicek in a second-round match on Friday. Sharapova will face French Nathalie Dechy next.

Martina Hingis led the expected parade of seeded players into the women’s third round and former finalist Gustavo Kuerten bowed out of the men’s draw.

Kuerten, a three-time French Open champion and an Indian Wells finalist in 2003, is struggling in his comeback from a hip injury. The Brazilian star is 2-6 this year after his 7-6 (5), 6-2 loss to Juan Martin del Potro, an Argentine ranked No 65.

Julien Benneteau saved two match points and rallied from 5-2 down in the last set to beat compatriot Gael Monfils 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Jelena Jankovic, Anna Chakvetadze and Shahar Peer all advanced in straight sets, while Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia and Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic survived three-set challenges. Hantuchova, the 2002 champion, outlasted Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-2, 2-6, 6-1, and Safarova beat Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-3, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (4).

Safarova, 20, had been sidelined by a left shoulder injury since reaching the final at Paris in February.