Fourth seed and three-time Indian Wells champion Rafael Nadal overcome the loss of the second set but he beat Gilles Muller 6-2 2-6 6-4 in two hours and 14 minutes to reach the third round.
Nadal and Muller met for the fifth time in their careers but for the first time since the 2011 US Open.
Nadal won four consecutive games from 2-2 to take the first set, although he converted just two of his seven break point chances. The second set started with three consecutive breaks. Muller got an immediate break but Nadal broke straight back. Muller broke again in the third game and held his service game to take a 3-1 lead. Muller earned five double break points but Nadal managed to hold his first service game in the second set. Muller got his third break of the second set in the seventh game to open up a 5-2 lead and served out for the second set in the next game. Muller won 65 percent of his service points and hit three aces.
The third set went on serve until the seventh game when Muller earned his first two break point chances. Nadal saved them to hold his serve after a 8-minute game and took a 4-3 lead before breaking serve on the second of his three match points in the 10th game to clinch the match 6-2 2-6 6-4.
Nadal won the last of his three titles at Indian Wells in 2013 when he beat Juan Martin Del Potro in three sets.
Nadal will face his compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the third round. Nadal leads 14-3 in their head-to-head matches but Verdasco won their most recent clash in the first round at the 2016 Australian Open in five sets with 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.
“I need to play better in the next match. I play against a tough opponent. He beat me in Australia this year”, said Nadal.
