Bermuda-bound John Isner unleashed 16 aces to edge past Italian Simone Bolelli 6-3 6-7 7-6 in the first round of the Pacific Life Open in California.

The American wild card, who will play in next month's XL Bermuda Open, clinched the tiebreak 7-2 in the final set to secure victory in just under two-and-a-half hours on Friday.

"It was a lot of fun to play out there on the centre court," said 6ft 9ins Isner after booking a place in the next round against fourth-seed Russian Nikolay Davydenko.

"I like it here and I feel like I played pretty well. It was a really tight match and could have gone either way. I got a bit fortunate today."

Isner, who is making his debut in the opening Masters Series event of the year, said the swirling winds at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden had been difficult to handle.

"Those were tough conditions and it was kind of tricky," the world number 92 said.

Fellow headliners set to grace Coral Beach Club next month Carlos Berlocq and Donald Young have also been in action at Indian Wells in California.

Donald Young, of the US, won his second round match 6-4, 6-7(3) against Feliciano Lopez of Spain on Saturday. But Argentine Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) lost to Gilles Simon, of France, 6-2, 6-3 on Friday.