Four-time Indian Wells champion Roger Federer moved into the third rund of the hardcourt ATP Masters tournament on Saturday with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) victory over Paul-Henri Mathieu.
Federer, the former world number one who has fallen to eighth in the world and is seeded seventh this year, extended his dominance over Mathieu with his seventh win in as many career meetings between the two.
Despite the decline in his ranking, the Swiss great arrived in the California desert fresh from claiming a 78th career ATP title in Dubai last week, his first title of 2014 moving him past John McEnroe for third place on the all-time ATP list.
It was his first title in nine months, and sparked anticipation that Federer could add to the titles he won at Indian Wells from 2004-2006 and in 2012.