Mattek, Kirkland Battle into Second Round

The second day of women's main draw action continued Thursday at the BNP Paribas Open with Center Court marathon matches between qualifiers, Aussie Nicole Pratt and American Bethanie Mattek, and between German Sandra Kloesel and American qualifier Jessica Kirkland.

In the battle between the two qualifiers, Pratt prevailed in the first-set tie-break of the 3-hour, 11-minute match, but promptly lost her serve to begin the second set - the only break Mattek needed to set up a third and decisive set.

The American raced out to a quick advantage by breaking Pratt twice to start the final set, but turned in a scare when she rolled her left ankle at 4-2. After a lengthy injury timeout which saw Mattek laying prone on the court, she bounced back strong. The 20-year-old closed out the contest by breaking Pratt one final time to seal the 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-3 win.

Mattek will next face rising star Sonia Mirza in her second round match. The 19-year-old had a breakthrough season in 2005, her first full year on the circuit, becoming India's first-ever Tour singles titlist by capturing the Hyderabad crown. She will be making her tournament debut.

Mattek's compatriot, Kirkland, also displayed nerves of steel as she triumphed in her first-round tie. She relinquished the opening set to Kloesel, but prevailed in the second and third set tie-breaks to complete the 3-hour victory, 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(3).

Kirkland began her week with a huge comeback in the first round of qualifying, coming from an 0-5 deficit in the third set to record the 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 win over tenth seed Emilia Salerni, and will come up against Czech Lucie Safarova in the second round.

Of the other Americans in first-round action Thursday. Southern California's Vania King picked up a win in her Indian Wells debut; the 17-year-old topped Russian qualifier Anastassia Rodionova 6-3, 6-1. The other American wild card, Alexandra Stevenson, failed to follow her lead as she fell to Croatian qualifier Ivana Lisjak 7-6(1), 6-2.

Meanwhile, Japan's Aiko Nakamura foiled Brenda Schultz-McCarthy's comeback in Indian Wells, ousting the former Top 10 player in straight sets. The 35-year-old Dutch, who recently stepped out of retirement, was making her first appearance in the main draw since the 1999 French Open.

Also on Thursday, Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova ousted Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual to earn a second-round meeting with top seed Justine Henin-Hardenne. Three French players also advanced; Stephanie Foretz, who defeated Shuai Peng of China 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, will be joined in the second round by Stephanie Cohen-Aloro and Severine Bremond.

In the first day of main draw doubles action, the two top seeds advanced with comfortable wins. Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur defeated Mara Santangelo and Mashona Washington 6-1, 6-4, while Cara Black and Rennae Stubbs sailed past Anastassia Rodionova and Jasmin Woehr 6-1, 6-1.