Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal breezed through to the third round of the ATP & WTA BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells as a flu bug wreaked havoc on the men's and women's draws.
Reigning Wimbledon champion and WTA Player of the Year Petra Kvitova suffered an early exit to 19 year-old American Christina McHale. 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.
Third seed Federer admitted he was feeling a bit sick but still managed to wrap up a comfortable 6-4, 6-1 win over wild card Denis Kudla.
Federer hammered eight aces and won 79 per cent of his first serve points in the 57 minute contest and later revealed that his family are suffering with illness.
"We are fighting something of our own in our family," he said. "I have a bit of a combination. Not a terrible temperature but I have some things going on. I am the best off in the family. The rest of them are struggling much more."
Federer, who won three titles in Indian Wells from 2004-2006, will face hard-serving Canadian Milos Raonic, who beat Carlos Berlocq in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, in the next round.
Nadal, meanwhile, won his first match since defeat at the Australian Open final when he lost only four games on his way to defeating Leonardo Mayer 6-1, 6-3.
"It's fantastic. I am happy to start with a victory," the world No 2 said. "I am taking it day by day. It's not easy to be back after a while without competition.
Nadal, a two-time winner in Indian Wells, will now face fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers, who beat Tommy Haas of Germany 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.
