Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are on a collision course at the ATP BNP Paribas Open following their third-round triumphs on Tuesday.
Top seeds to clash in rematch of last year's semi-final
World number one Rafael Nadal and defending champion Novak Djokovic are on a collision course at the ATP BNP Paribas Open following their third-round triumphs on Tuesday.
Top seed Nadal overcame Russian Dmitry Tursunov 6-3 6-3 at Indian Wells, while third seed Djokovic defeated German veteran Tommy Haas 6-2 7-6 (7-1).
That means, provided the Spaniard can come through against Argentina's David Nalbandian and Djokovic can beat Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka, the pair will meet in the semi-finals in California.
"It wasn't one of my best matches, true. It was tough to play against him," said Australian Open champion Nadal, who had to save a break point in the final game of his match but won the next three in a row to go through.
"He didn't give me a lot of rhythm. He played good shots, but at the same time made mistakes. I had more mistakes than usual."
Tests
Nalbandian has yet to drop a set against Nadal in two career meetings, though, and he showed good form in knocking out Serbia's Viktor Troicki 6-4 6-2 to progress.
Wawrinka had to save two match points in the third-set tie-breaker to advance with a 2-6 7-5 7-6 (10-8) victory over American Sam Querrey, although Djokovic believes he is moving in the right direction.
"It was better than the first match," the 21-year-old Serbian said. "I played really well in the opening set, and then could have done the job a bit earlier.
"I had some break chances and didn't make a couple returns, and gave him a chance to come back into the match."
Sixth-seeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro ran out a 6-2 2-6 7-6 (7-2) winner against Austrian Jurgen Melzer and seventh seed Andy Roddick edged Germany's Nicolas Kiefer 6-4 7-6 (7-4), meanwhile.
The American will face 12th-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer, who rallied for a 3-6 6-4 6-4 victory over unseeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, while Del Potro will take on American John Isner.
Wildcard Isner came through in straight sets - 6-4 6-4 - against former world number one Marat Safin of Russia.
