Sela ousted by Lopez; top seeds start play at Indian Wells

The 28-year-old Israeli, ranked No. 61 in the world, had his chances against Lopez (37), especially in the first set.

By ALLON SINAI
Dudi Sela 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Dudi Sela 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Dudi Sela squandered all five of his break points and was knocked out in the first round of the prestigious Indian Wells tournament in California on Friday, losing 7-5, 6-3 to Feliciano Lopez.
The 28-year-old Israeli, ranked No. 61 in the world, had his chances against Lopez (37), especially in the first set when he reached four break points. However, Sela failed to convert his opportunities on the Spaniard’s serve and was sent packing after one hour and 37 minutes.
Sela, who climbed 12 places to No. 61 last week to equal his highest position in the world rankings since June 2010, lost in the first round for just the second time in six tournaments this year.
Meanwhile, unseeded American Lauren Davis secured the first big upset of the tournament when she ousted third seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the second round in Indian Wells on Friday.
Davis broke serve seven times en route to a 6-0, 7-6 (2) victory as she pounced on the 2012 champion’s second serve. Azarenka, who was hampered by a foot injury, did not help her cause with 12 double faults.
It is the first time 20-year-old Davis, ranked 66th in the world, has beaten an opponent inside the top 20.
Earlier in California, second seed Agnieszka Radwanska earned a belated birthday present when she broke the serve of British qualifier Heather Watson seven times to win their second round match.
Radwanska was not exactly dominant, dropping serve five times herself, but she had enough of an edge to beat Watson 6-4, 6-3.
The top seeds received a first round bye, but some notables were in action on Friday including Dane Caroline Wozniacki, the 10th seed, who beat Bojana Jovanovski 6-1, 6-3.
Top seed Li Na started her campaign on Saturday against Chinese compatriot Zheng Jie.
In the men’s doubles, Swiss Grand Slam winners Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka teamed up for the first time in 18 months and entertained a large crowd in beating Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi 6-2, 6-7 (4), 10-6.
The Swiss pair and defending champion and top seed Rafa Nadal were in men’s singles action on Saturday.
Reuters contributed to this report