Defending champion Daniela Hantuchova arrived in Indian Wells, relaxed and ready to vie for her third Pacific Life Open title. The Slovak captured her first two career Tour titles at this event, her first in 2002 as an 18-year-old.

“I’m really honored to be defending a title like this and it’s very exciting to be back in my very special place,” said Hantuchova on Wednesday. “There’s always been something about this tournament, I always felt so great here. The atmosphere is so relaxing, no distractions, and I can really focus on my tennis.”

Hantuchova plays her second round opener against American wild card Angela Haynes, who defeated Italian Sara Errani 7-5, 6-2 as women’s main draw action began Wednesday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Russian superstar and 2006 Indian Wells champion Maria Sharapova, a potential quarterfinal opponent for Hantuchova, also learned the identity of her first opponent: French qualifier Stephanie Cohen-Aloro, a 6-1, 6-2 winner over American Lilia Osterloh.

Sharapova, who has gotten off to a torrid 14-0 start with titles at the Australian Open and Doha, said about her early success: “It’s crazy. It really is... Although I’ve been traveling, I’ve really been playing some great tennis. That’s always the goal, to come home and hopefully have something to bring back, which I have in the last couple months. It’s been pretty successful.”

Serb Ana Ivanovic, the runner-up to Sharapova in Melbourne, felt prepared and well adjusted to the atmosphere having arrived in Indian Wells last week, but also felt the added pressure of being the top seed.

“Obviously I have expectations, and the old pressure I have is the pressure I put on myself,” said Ivanovic. “Sometimes it’s easy to deal with it and sometimes it’s harder, but still I’m learning a lot... It’s one of the first times that I’m top seeded as well; it’s a new thing for me. I’m trying to learn from it and to handle the emotions and expectations.”

Ivanovic awaits the winner between Romanian Ioana Raluca Olaru and China’s Meng Yuan, who take the courts on Thursday.

A couple Americans enjoyed strong starts to o women’s main draw action Wednesday. Jill Craybas set up a second round date with No. 8 seed Dinara Safina as she defeated Czech qualifier Barbora Zahlavova Strycov 7-6(2), 6-4 on Stadium 1, while Ashley Harkleroad lost just two games against Ukranian Tatiana Perebiynis and next faces Czech No. 26 seed Lucie Safarova.

Meanwhile, American Meilen Tu lost to Russian Ekaterina Makarova, 6-4, 6-2. Makarakova earned a meeting with compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova, the No. 2 seed and last year’s runner-up.