Suarez Navarro shocks Kuznetsova; Garcia-Lopez beats Cilic

INDIAN WELLS (U.S.): Top-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova fell at the first hurdle as Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro defeated the women's World No. 3 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday.

It was the second straight year that Kuznetsova lost in the second round at Indian Wells, a tournament where she has had two runner-up finishes but never won.

Suarez Navarro, ranked 42nd in the world, called her 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 triumph over Kuznetsova “one of the most important matches of my life,” but it was clear Kuznetsova was well off the form that saw her capture the French Open last year.

Nadal advances

Reigning champion Rafael Nadal, playing his first tennis match in more than a month, reached the third round with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Rainer Schuettler.

Nadal hadn't played since retiring with a right knee injury while trailing Andy Murray by two sets in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in January.

Nadal's victory over Schuettler offered little opportunity to gauge his game given the chilly, windy conditions that prevailed as darkness fell in the California desert.