Novak Djokovic made a slow start as he launched his bid for a third consecutive BNP Paribas Open title with a 2-6 6-1 6-2 victory over American qualifier Bjorn Fratangelo.

The 22-year-old Fratangelo raced into a 4-0 lead in the opening set before Djokovic found his game to extend his winning streak at Indian Wells to 12 matches.

"He came out with a good game plan," Djokovic told the ATP's official website. "I started awful.

"I think the fifth game in the third was the deciding one," Djokovic said. "That break obviously meant that I can start to feel a bit more comfortable."

Fourth-seeded Rafael Nadal was given a solid workout by Luxembourg's Gilles Muller before coming through 6-2 2-6 6-4.

Fifth seed Kei Nishikori advanced to the third round with a 6-3 6-3 win over Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan, while number seven seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overcame compatriot Vincent Millot 7-5 6-1.

Dominic Thiem survived a tight battle with qualifier Jozef Kovalik as he edged through 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/3) and he will face Jack Sock in the third round after the American beat Michael Berrer 6-2 6-4.

The number 19 seed Benoit Paire, however, is on his way home after a 6-1 6-3 reverse to Adrian Mannarino and he is joined by Martin Klizan, who was forced to retire from his match with Fernando Vedasco when trailing 5-3 in the opening set.

In the women's event, Serena Williams took time to get going against Yulia Putintseva before advancing with a 7-6 (7/2) 6-0 triumph.

"She's a good player; we had a tight match before," Williams said during her on-court interview.

"The first set was a little tricky; I kind of had to figure out and figure out my game, and find that inner tiger and, you know, roar!"

World number three Agnieszka Radwanska, who was close to be ousted by Dominika Cibulkova in the second round, advanced with a straightforward 6-2 6-1 win over Monica Niculescu.

Defending champion Simona Halep also made serene progress into the third round as she ending the tournament of number 30 seed Ekaterina Makarova with a 6-2 6-4 victory.

Jelena Jankovic raced into the fourth round with a comfortable 6-0 6-1 win over Coco Vandeweghe and eighth-seeded Petra Kvitova advanced with a 6-3 4-6 7-5 win over Sweden's Johanna Larsson.

American qualifier Nicole Gibbs maintained her impressive start to the year to set up a date with Kvitova following a 6-0 6-4 win over Yaroslava Shvedova.