World No. 4 David Ferrer was bundled out of the second round of the Indian Wells ATP Masters on Saturday by 37th-ranked South African Kevin Anderson.
Anderson, who had right elbow surgery on January 21, defeated the fourth-seeded Spaniard 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. It marked the first time since Cincinnati last August that Ferrer fell in his first match of a tournament, not including his retirement during a first set at Shanghai in October.
Ferrer, 30, had claimed two titles in five tournaments this year. He also reached the final at Acapulco, where he was comprehensively beaten 6-0, 6-2 by Rafael Nadal in Nadal’s third tournament back from a seven-month injury layoff.
Anderson claimed the third victory over a top-five player of his career. He had lost his last 11 encounters against players ranked in the top 10.
In the third round, Anderson will face Jarkko Nieminen. The 31-year-old Finn ranked 57th in the world upset another seeded Spaniard, 29th-ranked Fernando Verdasco, by 6-1, 6-0.
Anderson upsets Ferrer at Indian Wells
