By DPA,
Indian Wells (California): Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic enjoyed solid wins wins while top seed Rafael Nadal was made to work for his success by an Indian outsider as the world top three moved into the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells Masters Wednesday.
It was home and hosed for second seed Federer and the on-form Djokovic, with the Swiss schooling American teenager Ryan Harrison 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 and Djokovic winning his 15th match of the year as he crushed Davis Cup teammate Viktor Troicki 6-0, 6-1.
But Nadal had a fight on his hands after a sluggish start, taking more than two hours to defeat Somdev Devvarman of India 7-5, 6-4.
“I played really bad, especially in the beginning,” said the Spaniard. “After that I improved a little bit, but the first set in general, for me, was really bad.
“I wasn’t able to play aggressive with my forehand. I didn’t see the opportunity to go inside and to play the winner. The level was very low in the first set, but in the second set I improved.
“It’s much more important to win matches when you are playing bad than when you are playing well.”
Federer fired 10 aces against American young gun Harrison, who saved three match points in the second set in a game where he managed three straight aces.
“I had a tricky opponent,” said three-time Indian Wells winner Federer. “He didn’t start so well but then he made it hard for me. He played a fantastic match and has a great future.”
Djokovic needed scarcely over an hour to peg back Troicki, hero of the Davis Cup final in December over France. But the final game was a monster lasting more than 10 minutes, with 16th-seeded Troicki saving four match points and putting his celebrated Serb compatriot under pressure with two break points.
So fierce was the intensity that Troicki drew a warning for smashing a racquet in the heat of battle in the closing moments, before Djokovic secured the victory with a backhand winner down the line.
Djokovic has lost a mere six games so far at the first Masters 1000 of the season. He improved to 8-1 over Troicki, winning their last eight meetings and stands 15-0 this season.
“I’m playing probably the best tennis of my life over these past three months,” said Djokovic, seeded third. “It all started for me in the Davis Cup.
“It was tough to play today against a guy whom I’ve known since I was 9 years old. We had dinner last night together. You have a friendship, but you leave that behind when you step onto the court.”
Swiss 12th seed Stanislas Wawrinka won his third straight match over Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, as he put out the Czech seventh seed 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a struggle lasting for more than two and a half hours.
Richard Gasquet of France beat American Andy Roddick 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) to next line up against Djokovic. Tommy Robredo stopped listless local Sam Querrey 6-1, 6-3 while Juan Del Potro continued his rise in form after wrist surgery with a defeat of German Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (9-7)
Croatian Ivo Karlovic will next play Nadal after beating AlbertMontanes 7-6 (9-7), 6-2.
In the women’s quarter-finals, French 15th seed Marion Bartoli defeated 2008 winner and 2009 finalist Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
Belgian Yanina Wickmayer reached the final four over 10th seed Shahar Peer 6-3, 6-3.