Reuters
Indian Wells, March 14: World No. 1 Novak Djokovic survived a stern test from qualifier Bjorn Fratangelo to make the third round of the BNP Paribas Open here Sunday, with Spaniard Rafa Nadal also needing three sets to advance from a tricky opening clash.
American Fratangelo, the World No. 149, showed no early fear against double defending champion Djokovic, racing out to a 4-0 lead as the rusty Serb struggled to halt the unforced errors.
However, Djokovic, who helped his country beat Kazakhstan in the Davis Cup last week, used his vast experience to overcame the early onslaught and secure a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory at a breezy Indian Wells venue.
“The fifth game of the third (set) was the deciding one,” Djokovic told reporters. “That break obviously meant that I can start to feel a bit more comfortable, play a little bit more aggressive on the court. The conditions were really rough,” he added.
Djokovic, an 11-time Grand Slam singles champion who is bidding for a record fifth title here, will next face Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber, who dropped only one game in beating American Denis Kudla 6-0, 6-1, 6-0.
Fourth seed Nadal also had a fight to make the third round in the day’s late match, saving 11 of 14 breakpoints to edge out Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.
Women’s top seed Serena Williams looked like she was in for a battle but the early challenge of Yulia Putintseva wilted as the American eased to a 7-6 (7-2), 6-0 third round win.
As boxing great Mike Tyson watched on, Serena punched below her weight in the first set, making 29 unforced errors and had to break the Kazak’s service to force a tie-break.
The second set was not a fair fight as Serena overwhelmed her opponent. “I started to get more confidence to continue to go for it,” Serena told reporters.
While Serena got a good workout Sunday, World No. 3, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland barely raised a sweat as she continued her bid for a first Indian Wells crown by beating Monica Niculescu 6-2, 6-1.
Defending champion Simona Halep breezed past Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-4, while last year’s runner-up Jelena Jankovic also had it easy against Coco Vandweghe 6-0, 6-1.
In the men’s draw, Kei Nishikori cruised past Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-3, but Bulgarian 23rd seed Grigor Dimitrov was dumped out by German teenager Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 5-7.
