World No 4 Grigor Dimitrov slumped to a shock 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3 defeat to Spain’s Fernando Verdasco in his opening match of the ATP Indian Wells Masters on Saturday.

Dimitrov continues to struggle in the California desert, the 26-year-old Bulgarian No 1 never making it past the third round in seven appearances.

Dimitrov reached the final earlier this year in Rotterdam, where he lost to Roger Federer. That came after a breakthrough 2017 which saw him win four titles, including Sofia, Cincinnati, Brisbane and the ATP Finals.

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Verdasco, 34, is making his 15th straight appearance in Indian Wells and trying to improve on his 2009 quarter-final run.

Anderson advances

Earlier, Kevin Anderson, who is off to one of the hottest starts on the ATP Tour this season, defeated Evgeny Donskoy 7-5, 6-4 in the second round on Saturday.

The seventh seed from South Africa moves through to the third round of the $16 million ATP/WTA hardcourt tournament where he will face either Nicolas Kicker or Damir Dzumhur

The 31-year-old Anderson comes into Indian Wells with an impressive 11-3 win-loss record in 2018. He lost in the final in Acapulco last Saturday to Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4, 6-4 but claimed his fourth ATP title earlier this year at the New York Open.