Indian Wells: Rafael Nadal breezed into the fourth round at Indian Wells on Tuesday where he was joined by Roger Federer who had to dig deep to fend off rising star Milos Raonic in three sets.
Where world number three Federer had to come from behind to beat Canada’s Raonic 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-4, his Spanish rival cruised by Marcel Granollers 6-1, 6-4, to extend his winning run against his compatriots to 10 matches.
Nadal will face Alexandr Dolgopolov in the fourth round of the hardcourt tournament in the California desert.
In the women’s draw, defending champion Caroline Wozniacki saw her bid for back-to-back titles fail as she was dumped out 6-3, 6-2 in the night match by former world number one Ana Ivanovic.
Federer also appeared to be facing an early exit after losing the first set to Raonic.
But the 30-year-old Swiss, who won three straight Indian Wells titles from 2004-2006, came back to take the next two sets and continue a strong run of form that has seen him take consecutive wins in Rotterdam and Dubai.
“It was a difficult match,” Federer said. “I have never played him before. He has probably seen me play a whole lot on TV which helps him out a bit.”
Federer hammered 10 aces and won 88 percent of his first-serve points in the two hour, seven minute match, and afterwards expressed pride in the comeback.
Raonic, who already has two titles this season, showed why he is considered one of the rising stars on the ATP Tour, earning the praise of his opponent.
On the women’s side of the draw, top seed Victoria Azarenka extended her winning streak this year to 20-0 by beating Julia Goerges 6-3, 6-1.
Defending champion Wozniacki crashed out of the tournament after losing to the 15th seeded Ivanovic.
Former champion Ivanovic broke Wozniacki five times on her way to a suprisingly easy victory.
In doubles, Australian Open winners Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek saw off a stiff resistance from Juan Monaco and Kei Nishikori to advance to the quarter-finals.
The seventh-seeded Indo-Czech pair scored a tough 7-6(5) 6-4 win in the second round over their unseeded opponents.
Meanwhile, Sania Mirza and her Russian partner Elena Vesnina also moved to quarterfinals after scoring a hard fought win over Timea Bacsinszky and Alberta Brianti. The second seeds dominated the proceedings in the beginning but lost the second set before winning the second round match 6-1, 3-6, 10-2. (Agencies)
