Indian Wells, USA, 8 March 2013 | tennis.com.au

Lleyton Hewitt has overcome a tough challenge from Lukas Rosol to advance to the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

Hewitt defeated the Czech 6-4 3-6 6-1 in one hour and 35 minutes, and will next face 15th seed John Isner of the United States.

The Australian, who turned 32 in February, converted four of 12 break points against the 62nd-ranked Rosol.

Two of those breaks came in the final set as Hewitt asserted his authority over proceedings, reaching the second round in the Californian desert for the 11th time in his career, and the first since 2009.

Hewitt leads the head-to-head with Isner 2-1, but lost the pair’s last meeting, which came in the final of the ATP grasscourt event in Newport, Rhode Island.