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There was no shortage of action on the Indian Wells grounds today. Eight courts were pressed into service to handle the many women?s first round matches and men?s qualifying tilts. Recognizable names were in short supply, though, unless you wandered the practice courts. The seeded players, who receive a first round bye, will make their debuts tomorrow on the women?s side.

In the meantime fans had a chance to make their acquaintance with some lesser lights, such as first round winner Marta Marrero (pictured at right), who battled hard for precious slots in the second round.

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Shenay Perry (Q) def. Julia Vakulenko, 6-3, 6-2
First round
Stadium 1
Previous head-to-head: First meeting

The increasing ethnic diversity of American tennis was on ample display on stadium court this afternoon. Three of the young talents on display were black -- wild cards Jamea Jackson and Angela Haynes followed qualifier Shenay Perry in the cavernous stadium to show their stuff. For a tournament whose fans were branded by Richard Williams as racist after the Williams family was jeered here in 2001, this was an excellent gesture for the organizers to make.

Perry was the only member of the trio to emerge with a win. Jackson was unfortunate in her loss to Marissa Irvin, as she suffered from heat exhaustion and was forced to abandon a close match early in the third set. Then, Haynes ran into a buzz-saw in the person of the former junior ace Barbora Strycova, and lost 6-4, 6-2.

Shenay Perry is a 19-year-old native of Washington, D.C., now living in Florida. She is smallish and slightly built, and lists herself at 5?7?. Perry suggests with a mischievous grin that she might be shorter. ?5?7? is what I tell people, but I would call myself short.? Today Perry was up against a heavy-hitting Ukrainian, 71st-ranked Julia Vakulenko, who we figured would pose a test for the 19-year-old American. Vakulenko has had a strong early season, with a semifinal showing in Canberra in January, as well as a quarterfinal in Acapulco just last week.

As it turned out, Vakulenko was too wild to worry the composed Perry today. The Ukrainian committed 13 double faults, including two on costly occasions. A double fault on break point at 4-3 of the first set allowed Perry to serve for the first set, which she did calmly and flawlessly. And at 1-1 of the second set, Vakulenko gave the game away with another double fault, and was never a factor the rest of the way. In all, Vakulenko committed 38 unforced errors, while Perry kept it clean with just 15 errors to 17 winners.

We spoke with Shenay Perry, a soft-spoken, laid-back, pleasant young woman, after the match. While Perry allowed that her opponent helped her out today, she wasn?t totally pleased with her own game. ?We both seemed a little bit nervous,? she admitted. ?Maybe the big court, maybe the air, I don?t know. But I was happy overall that I stayed focused in a match that was rhythmless on both sides.?

Perry is a slashing, quick player who is pleasant to watch. She describes herself this way: ?I?d say I?m an all-court player. And basically, my movement. If I move pretty well, I play pretty well. And then I like to move in and get to the net as many times as I can.? Her best shot is the forehand, and she often plays safe, sliced shots with her one-handed backhand. She is working hard on making her backhand a more aggressive stroke. ?I think now I?m getting a lot more confident with my one-hander, and come over it more now.?

Shenay was also pleased when it was pointed out that three of the young Americans being showcased on stadium court today were African-American. ?I didn?t even realize that, but I think it?s a great thing.?

Next up for Perry in the second round will be 19th seed Nathalie Dechy, who has had some good results at this tournament in recent years. Dechy has never reached the quarterfinals, but has scored some memorable early round wins over the likes of Kim Clijsters, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and (back when it meant something) Anna Kournikova. Looking ahead to the matchup, Perry said she is more focused on her own game than that of her opponent. ?Of course the opponent is a factor but as long as I play my game I?ll be fine,? said Shenay, ?w in or lose.?

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Anna-Lena Groenefeld (Q) def. Virginia Ruano Pascual, 7-5, 6-2
First round
Stadium 3
Previous head-to-head: First meeting

Another qualifier we had an eye on was the former junior #1 who had impressed us on Tuesday, Anna-Lena Groenefeld. We thought that the aggressive German teen might worry Spanish veteran Ruano Pascual today? which she certainly did.

The wily Ruano kept her young opponent at bay in the first set, which she probably shoud have won. Ruano failed to take advantage of two set points, the first on Groenefeld?s serve at 5-3 (?ViVi? floated a backhand return long), and a second when serving for the set at 5-4 (a forehand error). Given new life, Groenefeld raised her game and turned to an attacking style, breaking Ruano with an overhead winner. Groenefeld broke the Spaniard?s serve again to claim the set, when Ruano limply double-faulted on set point.

Anna-Lena stayed on a roll throughout the second set, playing the most penetrating tennis we have seen from her so far this week. Meanwhile, Ruano was making too many forehand errors to hope to match the young German?s level. The 6-2 second set score tells the story. Groenefeld wrapped up the win on her first match point with flair -- she whacked a vicious cross-court backhand return with a cry of ?Aha!!?, and exulted as the ball skipped just inside the line.

An intriguing second round tilt with 7th seed Nadia Petrova awaits Anna-Lena Groenefeld on Saturday. Petrova is accomplished, but has not played a competitive match in two months. Meanwhile, Groenefeld has three matches under her belt this week and is growing in confidence. We?ll see what the young German will bring to the table for this big test.

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Wandering in the desert

Medina Garrigues tames her demons

The most entertaining match we saw on the outer courts today involved Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues and the greatest player in the history of Madagascar, Dally Randriantefy. In the early going Medina appeared to have too much power for her African opponent, and after taking a 6-4 2-0 lead appeared headed for certain victory. But Randiantefy had other ideas, and began using drop shots, changes of pace and sharp angles to bedevil her opponent and win the next 6 games to force a deciding set. The Spaniard?s nerves were on edge, and she was given a warning for unleashi ng a torrent of nasty Spanish words. Medina managed to hold it together to finally subdue her game opponent, 6-4 2-6 7-5, and earn a second round berth. Anabel?s opponent on Saturday will be 20th seed Meghann Shaughnessy.

Ferrero falls ill, men?s qualifiers set

The men?s draw took a blow today when one of the top attractions, 2nd seed Juan Carlos Ferrero, withdrew. The French Open champion felt ill on his arrival here, and was diagnosed with a case of chicken pox by the tournament physician. Ferrero?s spot in the draw is taken by Gaston Gaudio, who is promoted to a seed, and Jeff Salzenstein moves into the draw as a lucky loser.

The happy men?s qualifiers are?

Frédéric Niemeyer (CAN) -- will play Alberto Martin

Simon Larose (CAN) -- will play Felix Mantilla

O Canada! Vive le Québec tennistique! A big week for Canadian tennis as two members of the Canadian Davis Cup squad earn spots in the main draw. They may stand a chance of worrying Spaniards more used to the clay. Our Canadian friends may be interested to know that recently-retired Sébastien Lareau is here, working with Niemeyer.

Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) -- will play Taylor Dent

We were interested to see Nicolas Lapentti?s younger brother in action today. He does not look too much like his ?bro?, as he is taller, more slender, and has more angular features. We were impressed with his game, which features strong serves and frequent use of the volley.

Glenn Weiner (USA) -- will play Bohdan Ulihrach

Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) -- will play Thomas Johansson

Wayne Arthurs (AUS) -- will play fellow qualifier Federico Browne

Federico Browne (ARG) -- will play fellow qualifier Wayne Arthurs

Harel Levy (ISR) -- will play Brian Vahaly

Fernando Verdasco (ESP) -- will play Nicolas Escudé

Jan Hernych (CZE) -- will play Nikolay Davydenko

John van Lottum (NED) -- will play Jan-Michael Gambill

Thierry Ascione (FRA) -- will play Irakli Labadze