Three-time Indian Wells champion Novak Djokovic fought back 1-3 down and broke serve with a forehand winner to take a 5-3 lead in the second set to defeat Albert Ramos Vinolas 7-5 6-3. Djokovic was broken twice in the match and hit 18 winners to 32 unforced errors. Andy Murray edged Phillip Kohlschreiber in three sets with 6-1 3-6 6-1 in just under two hours Diego Sampaolo
Novak Djokovic trailed 1-3 in the opening set after a bad first game in which he dropped his serve with two double faults after leading 40-15. Ramos committed three double faults enabling Djokovic to serve out for the set. Djokovic clinched the first set with 7-5.
Nole saved two break point chances at the start of the second set. Djokovic broke serve in the eighth game with a forehand winner to go up 5-3.
“I managed to play the right shots at the right time in the important moments and I managed to sneak through in straight sets. It wasn’t as good as the first match but a win is a win. I struggled a lot and had some unforced errors but towards the end of the match it was better. ”, said Djokovic.
Djokovic, who won three times in the Californian desert in 2008, 2011 and 2014, will face John Isner who edged Kevin Anderson 7-6 (10-8) 6-2. Isner hit 18 aces and 29 winners and did not face any break points
Djokovic and Isner will play a re-match of last year’s semifinal. They will square off against for the third time at Indian Wells. In 2012 Isner upse Djokovic in the semifinals before losing the final against Roger Federer.
Andy Murray overcame Phillip Kohlschreiber in three sets with 6-1 3-6 6-1. The Scotsman broke serve twice in the third set before wrapping up the match when the German hit his forehand wide.
The first three games went on serve until Kohlschreiber faced two break points. He dropped his serve to trail 1-3 at the second opportunity. At 4-1 Murray got the double break before clinching the first set.
The second set went on serve until 2-2 when Kohlschreiber faceda break point after committing a double fault. Kohlschreiber saved it before earning a break point in the sixth game and five more break points when he was leading 4-3. Murray dropped his serve in the eighth game before the German sealed the win in the second set. Murray reeled off 16 consecutive point to open up a 4-0 lead en route to seasing the win after 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Murray, who finished runner-up to Rafa Nadal in the 2009 Indian Wells final, is just two match wins from overtaking Tim Henman’s record of 496 wins whch would make him the most successful British player in the Open Era.
Murray set up a fourth-round match against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino who beat Ernests Gulbis with 6-4 6-4. Mannarino dropped serve once in the entire match and broke serve in the seventh game of the first set and in the sixth game of the second set. Gulbis lost for the sixth time in seven matches this year.
Kei Nishikori fought back from a set down to battle past Fernando Verdasco with 6-7 (8-10) 6-1 6-4. The Japanese star has reached to the fourth time in his seventh appearance in the Californian Tournament.
Bernard Tomic upset David Ferrer 7-5 6-4 in a re-match of last month’s clash in Acapulco won the Spanish player. Tomic will face another young Australian star Thanasi Kokkinakis who battled past Juan Monaco 6-2 5-7 7-6 (7-5).
Tomic broke serve early in the first set after Ferrer commintted two double faults. Ferrer conveted on his sixth break-back point chance. Tomic regained the break lead. Ferrer broke back for the second time but Tomic won the final two games of the set to win 7-5. Tomic did not convert on a break point chance. As Tomic was leading 3-2, Ferrer failed to convert his break point. At 4-3 Ferrer failed to convert on four break point chances. In the next game Tomic broke serve to take the 5-4 lead before closing out the match with his backhand volley.
Thanasi Kokkinakis went down 15-40 against Juan Monaco on his first service game but he won the game with his service. Monaco saved seven break points and a set point but Kokkinakis clinched the opening set with 6-2. Kokkinakis broke serve in the fifth game but Monaco broke back before pulling off a spectacular tweener in the eighth game before drawing level with 7-5. Kokkinakis got the break in the fifth game to take the 3-2 lead and earned the match point in the 10th game. Monaco forced the match to the tie-break where Monaco dropped his serve three times.
