Rain halts Federer's Indian Wells opener

Defending champ Roger Federer's opening match was put on hold Saturday when play at the Indian Wells ATP Masters  was suspended after heavy rain swept through the California desert. The 36-year-old Federer had taken a set from Federico Delbonis 6-3 with the second tied at 2-2 when rain stopped play.

Roger Federer's match at Indian Wells was suspended due to rain

Details: https://t.co/leN4Q3ETst pic.twitter.com/e2DqqwTZU9

— Sky Sports Tennis ? (@SkySportsTennis) March 11, 2018

The start of the match had been delayed several minutes by light rain in a precursor of worse weather to come. With the showers expected to continue, organizers eventually suspended play for the night, with the match to resume on Sunday.

It's 8 months ?️ to go until the #NittoATPFinals.

It's 8 years since Roger Federer won the 5th of his 6 crowns ? and he is on course to return to @TheO2 in London once again.

Buy Your 2018 Tickets ?️ Today: https://t.co/kKYVU6mwTG pic.twitter.com/jW2RKdmfxK

— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) March 11, 2018

One women's match had yet to be completed and another didn't even make it on court, and those two were also to be completed on Sunday. Federer and Delbonis will be the third match on stadium court on Sunday after 10th seeded Novak Djokovic plays his opener against Japan's Taro Daniel. Federer is seeking to extend his perfect record this season to 13-0 as he hopes to make history and capture his sixth title. The age-defying Swiss maestro has already won two titles in 2018, claiming his 20th Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open in January.

#Federer leads #Delbonis 6-2 2-2, but play has been suspended due to rain... Players have gone off court.#BNPPO18 pic.twitter.com/VstiVPiYUJ

— Live Tennis (@livetennis) March 11, 2018

In men's play earlier, world number four Grigor Dimitrov slumped to a shock 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-3 defeat to Spain's Fernando Verdasco. Dimitrov continues to struggle in Indian Wells. The 26-year-old Bulgarian No. 1 has never made it past the third round in seven appearances. Dimitrov reached the final earlier this year in Rotterdam, where he lost to Federer. That came after a breakthrough 2017 which saw him win four titles, including Sofia, Cincinnati, Brisbane and the ATP Finals.

Meet the press! #BNPPO18 media day gets underway with Grigor Dimitrov.

Follow along on our #ATPMasters1000 Live Blog ➡️➡️ https://t.co/XL0b3Stv2m pic.twitter.com/XFnBacylAm

— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) March 7, 2018

Verdasco, 34, is making his 15th straight appearance in Indian Wells and trying to improve on his 2009 quarter-final run. "It is an amazing feeling when you come to a tournament like this and in a stadium with a good atmosphere against one of the top players in the world. You know you're able to do your job and have a good day and win the match," said Verdasco. "So it was a really good feeling. I am super happy to win and come through this tough opponent and this tough round. "I am just going to enjoy the victory and try to keep it going in the next round and make it as far as possible."

SO, Grigor #Dimitrov has been eliminated by Verdasco at Indian Wells @BNPPARIBASOPEN ? #BNPPO18 (Video @TennisTV) pic.twitter.com/SJVu56H2a6

— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) March 11, 2018

Fifth seeded Dominic Thiem defeated teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in a second round match. Thiem moved through to a third round meeting with 30th seed Pablo Cuevas, of Uruguay, who beat Canadian Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.

??@ThiemDomi relieved to get through that one against Tsitsipas 6-2 3-6 6-3.#BNPPO18 pic.twitter.com/8ulykWC9Kr

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 10, 2018

Thiem, 24, is hoping to improve on last year's quarter-final finish at Indian Wells, one of the biggest events on the tennis calendar outside of the four Grand Slams. Other men's winners on Saturday included American Taylor Fritz, Czech Tomas Berdych and South Korea's Chung Hyeon.