13 Mar 2012

Stomach bug strikes Indian Wells tournament

6:47 am on 13 March 2012

Former winners Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal breezed through the second round with straight-set wins as a flu bug wreaked havoc on the men's and women's draws at the Indian Wells tennis tournament.

Reigning Wimbledon champion and WTA player of the year Petra Kvitova was knocked out early when 19-year-old American Christina McHale fought back to beat the Czech in three sets.

But the biggest problem eating into the draw was a stomach virus that has forced at least eight players to withdraw or retire within the last two days, including men's 14th seed Gael Monfils and women's ninth seed Vera Zvonareva.

Sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, fifth seed David Ferrer and ninth seed Juan Martin Del Potro also advanced to the third round.