Draw opens up for Djokovic in Indian Wells
Originally published on 12/03/14
With Rafael Nadal making an early exit in the Californian desert, Djokovic avoided a similar fate as he needed three sets to beat Alejandro Gonzalez 6-1 3-6 6-1 and set up a fourth-round clash with Marin Cilic, a 6-4 6-3 winner over Tommy Robredo.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Tomas Berdych and Richard Gasquet were all drawn in Djokovic’s half at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, but Gasquet’s defeat to Fernando Verdasco leaves 12th seed John Isner as the next highest ranked player. Verdasco’s 7-6(5) 6-2 victory over world No.9 Gasquet sees him meet Isner in the last 16, while Ernests Gulbis came from a set down to defeat Grigor Dimitrov 2-6 6-1 7-5.
Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, Li Na and Dominika Cibulkova won their respective fourth-round matches to set up a rematch of the Australian Open final. Top seed Li defeated Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak 6-1 6-4, while Cibulkova upset No.8 seed Petra Kvitova 6-3 6-2.
Simona Halep won an intriguing encounter, defeating Eugenie Bouchard 6-2 1-6 6-4, while Jelena Jankovic beat Caroline Wozniacki to set up a quarter-final clash with Agnieszka Radwanska.
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