INDIAN WELLS, Calif., March 9 (UPI) -- Andrey Golubev coasted to a first-round win over Rik De Voest at the BNP Paribas Open Thursday, creating a meeting with world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
Golubev ran away with a 6-1, 6-4 victory on the first day of the opening Masters series event of the season.
Djokovic, like all 32 seeds in the tournament, received a bye past the opening round. He is unbeaten this season, just as he was at this time last year when he used an amazing start to the campaign to move into the top spot in the world rankings.
Golubev and Djokovic have met just once, that match coming in this tournament a year ago. Djokovic won it 6-0, 6-4.
Among other first-round winners Thursday were Andreas Seppi, who will meet Mardy Fish in the second round, and Sam Querrey, who will take on Nicolas Almagro.
