The world No 1 Rafael Nadal and the defending champion Novak Djokovic cruised into the third round at the BNP Paribas Open after recording straight sets win in Indian Wells. The Spaniard Nadal, 22, breezed past Germany's Michael Berrer 6-2 6-1 in just 67 minutes and will face Dmitry Tursunov for a place in the quarter-finals after the Russian edged past the American qualifier Michael Russell 7-6 (7/5) 4-6 6-3. Despite connecting on just 48 per cent of his first serve, the Australian Open champion did not face a break of serve and was able to convert five of 14 chances of his own to advance.
Nadal has reached the Indian Wells semi-finals at least in the last three years after winning the crown in 2007 by beating Djokovic before losing to the Serb 12 months ago in the last four. The third seeded Serbian Djokovic, meanwhile, secured a 7-5 6-4 victory over unseeded Martin Vassallo Arguello of Argentina to set up a third round meeting with Tommy Haas, who beat Rainer Schuettler 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-4. The Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships winner Djokovic, 21, did have his serve broken on two occasions, but grabbed four of his own in the one hour and 44 minute contest.
Last year's beaten finalist Mardy Fish lost 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-1) to the Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, but the sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro recovered from dropping the first set to American wild card Ryan Sweeting to prevail 6-7 (6/8) 6-3 6-1. He will next face Austrian Jurgen Melzer, who beat American wild card Taylor Dent 7-5 6-2. Seventh seeded American Andy Roddick also advanced after recording a 6-1 7-6 (7-3) triumph over qualifier Daniel Koellerer. While seeds David Ferrer, David Nalbandian, Stanislas Wawrinka, and Nicolas Kiefer progressed, the world number nine Gael Monfils lost 6-7 (5/7) 6-1 6-4 to American wild card John Isner, the world number 147. Isner did not face a break point and broke Monfils three times to wrap up the win in just under two hours. The American Sam Querrey advanced in straight sets at the expense of 18th seed Radek Stepanek, while Tomas Berdych also lost in two to Viktor Troicki, who will next face Nalbandian. *PA Sport