Murray, Sharapova advance to 3rd round at Indian Wells (Yahoo Sports)

Andy Murray beat Vasek Pospisil 6-1, 6-3 to reach the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday, with the hard-serving Canadian making it easier with 35 unforced errors. Two-time champion Maria Sharapova needed six match points to put away Yanina Wickmeyer 6-1, 7-5 in her bid to become the first woman to win the tournament three times. Kei Nishikori beat American Ryan Harrison 6-4, 6-4, while defending women’s champion Flavia Pennetta easily advanced on a 91-degree day in the desert. Defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic played a night match.