Britain's number one Elena Baltacha kicked off her Indian Wells campaign with a three-set victory over Arantxa Rus to move into the second round.

Baltacha fought back from a set down to see off the Dutchwoman 3-6 6-4 6-3 and book a date with Julia Goerges, the 14th seed from Germany.

The 27-year-old, ranked 60 in the world and playing some of the best tennis of her career, had earlier revealed she is considering retiring from the sport after the London Olympics.

Baltacha struggles with liver problems and has been troubled by injuries throughout her career. She indicated if she cannot overcome those problems, she will hang up her tennis shoes.

She was pleased with the way the match went.

"Today's been a really good win for me and I really needed that," she said. "I felt really good after the first set. She gave me an opportunity, I took it and after that I really felt like I was mixing everything up and I felt comfortable.

"In the third set I went 2-0 down but I still felt like I could win the match and I ended up winning the next five games. When my coach Nino came onto the court he told me to fight, just fight and that's what I always try to do. You're never out until you lose the last point."

Meanwhile, it was a disappointing day in the Californian desert for Baltacha's compatriot Anne Keothavong, who fell at the first hurdle with a 6-4 2-6 7-5 defeat to Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky.

Baltacha is now the last British woman standing at the BNP Paribas Open after both Laura Robson and Heather Watson failed to qualify for the main draw.

In other results, Australian Jarmila Gajdosova beat Coco Vandeweghe of the US 4-6 6-3 6-3, while two other Americans Vania King and Jamie Hampton progressed after wins over Sara Errani and Polona Hercog - 7-6 6-4 and 6-0 6-1 respectively.

Mona Barthel, who kicked off her season in style with victory in Hobart, beat Jill Craybas 6-1 6-2 to earn a second round meeting with world number one Victoria Azarenka.

Veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm downed Pauline Parmentier 6-1 6-3 while Michaella Krajicek saw off Urszula Radwanska 3-6 6-4 6-4 and Elena Vesnina beat Casey Dellacqua 6-4 7-5.

There were also wins for Sloane Stephens, Sania Mirza and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.

Australian Open champion Azarenka leads the women's draw, with Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova and Caroline Wozniacki also headlining at the tournament.

Eurosport