Indian Wells, CA (Sports Network) - Second-seeded Roger Federer was an easy
straight-set winner and former champion Rafael Nadal reached the fourth round
without lifting his racquet at the $4.33 million BNP Paribas Open on Monday.
The former world No. 1 and reigning Wimbledon champion Federer needed only 61
minutes to send Croatian Ivan Dodig packing with a 6-3, 6-1 decision. Federer
is the reigning Indian Wells champion and a four-time winner here.
Federer will take on Stanislas Wawrinka in the fourth round after the 18th-
seeded Swiss earned a 6-4, 7-5 decision over two-time Indian Wells titlist and
former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt.
The fifth-seeded Nadal was scheduled to meet Leonardo Mayer on Day 5, but the
Argentine pulled out of their scheduled third-round match with a back injury
on a day when an earthquake shook Southern California.
"I was very scared. First time in my life," Nadal said. "I finish the
earthquake, and my legs were (trembling)."
The quake had an estimated magnitude of 4.7 on the Richter scale and the
epicenter was about a dozen miles from the desert town of Anza, about 100
miles from Los Angeles.
The former world No. 1 and reigning French Open champion Nadal was the 2007
Indian Wells titlist and 2011 runner-up.
Up next for Nadal will be talented Latvian Ernests Gulbis, who stayed red-hot
with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 come-from-behind victory over 20th-seeded Italian Andreas
Seppi. Gulbis has won his last 13 matches, including qualifying ones in order
to enter the main draw at Indian Wells. He was a titlist in Delray Beach, Fla.
two weeks ago.
Sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych moved on by defeating 27th-seed German Florian
Mayer, 6-4, 6-1 and is seeking a trip into a third final in his last three
events. He will first need to get through Richard Gasquet, who he will face in
the fourth round after the Frenchman ousted 24th-seeded Jerzy Janowicz, 6-1,
6-4.
Also on Monday in the California desert, tall South African Kevin Anderson
handled Finnish veteran Jarkko Nieminen, 6-3, 6-1. To advance in fourth round
play, he will have to defeat 13th-seed Gilles Simon, who bested French
countryman Benoit Paire, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
The 2013 Indian Wells champ will collect $1 million.
The Sports Network