KEY POINTS:
INDIAN WELLS, California - World tennis No 1 Roger Federer suffered a stunning 5-7, 2-6 upset defeat by Argentine Guillermo Canas in the Pacific Life Open second round today.
Federer, seeking his fourth title in a row at the Indian Wells Masters Series tournament, received treatment for blisters
at the end of the first set and looked sluggish throughout as his 41-match winning streak was ended by Canas.
The Swiss ten-times grand slam champion, whose last defeat was inflicted by Briton Andy Murray in Cincinnati in August, was hoping to break the professional era record of 46 successive wins set by Argentine Guillermo Vilas.
Federer celebrated his 161st consecutive week as world No 1 last month, breaking the 30-year-old record of American Jimmy Connors.
"It's great to beat the number one, I feel perfect," the 29-year-old Canas told reporters. "I dream about this, but I didn't expect it. I have confidence in my game but I know it's gonna be tough."
Canas outplayed Federer from the baseline, never allowing the top seed to control the centre of the court and sealing victory with a powerful inside out forehand.
Canas, ranked 60th in the world but with a career high of eighth in 2005, returned to the tour last September after serving a 15-month suspension for a doping offence.
The Argentine world number said that a doctor had mis-prescribed a banned medication.
"I feel terrible for that, to make maybe a small mistake," Canas said. "But all the players know that, and for this they give me a very good welcome and support me a lot. Now it's great again because I do what I want, I do what I love."
He lost in last round of qualifying for the tournament to German Alexander Waske, but earned a place in the draw when Belgium's Xavier Malisse withdrew due to injury.
Murray eased past South African Wesley Moodie 6-3, 6-3 to reach the third round.
Number eight seed Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia also progressed but was made to work hard by Colombia's Alejandro Falla before scraping through 6-7, 6-4, 6-4.
The 19-year-old Murray blunted Moodie's serve and volley attack by firing his returns low to the South African's feet and cleverly reading his opponent's passing shots.
The 13th seed is aiming to break into the world's top 10 this week and showed the consistent form that led him to his second career title in San Jose last month.
The British number one broke Moodie three times and was broken just once. He next faces France's Nicolas Mahut, who upset 23rd seed Marat Safin 6-3 4-6 6-0.
"I returned pretty good today," Murray said. "High percentage of first serves, didn't make too many unforced errors, so it was a solid match."
Number 11 seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic was not so lucky as he lost 7-6, 6-4 to American journeyman Michael Russell.
Seventh seed Tommy Robredo of Spain also fell, losing to Gilles Simon of France 6-7, 6-3, 6-0
Fifth seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile and number 10 David Nalbandian advanced to the third round with three-set victories over Canadian Frank Dancevic and German Philipp Kohlschreiber respectively.
- REUTERS
