Australian Open champion, Roger Federer, defeated Rafael Nadal, in straight sets 6-2 6-3 to claim a third straight win over the Spaniard in their 36th meeting to reach quarter-finals in Indian Wells.
Federer, who got the better of his Spanish rival in a thrilling five-setter at Australian Open final in January, broke Nadal’s serve to open the match then survived a break point to hold with a backhand winner down the line for 2-0.
The 18th Grand Slam title winner crunched six backhand winners to none from Nadal as he played a flawless opening set, taking it in a little over half an hour.
Nadal might have hoped to profit from a surface markedly slower than that in Melbourne but it did nothing to curb Federer’s aggressive intent.
Another early break in the second set had Federer within sight of the finish line and he raced through with four breaks of serve to none to win in 68 minutes.
“It’s a nice feeling to win the last three, I can tell you that. After the Australian hype, to play here in America right away, all of them are very special. Obviously can’t celebrate too long this time around. I have to get back to work in a couple of days.” Federer told reporters.
The Swiss would now face Nick Kyrgios, who ended Novak Djokovic’s 19-match winning run at Indian Wells by beating the Serb 6-4 7-6(3) to reach the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals.
Australian Kyrgios had beaten Djokovic in the quarter-finals in Acapulco almost two weeks ago in their first career meeting, and repeated the feat on Wednesday to reach the last eight, where he will face Federer.
In other matches, third seed, Stan Wawrinka overcame Yoshihito Nishioka 3-6 6-3 7-6(4), Austria’s Dominic Thiem defeated Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-3 6-2, and Japan’s Kei Nishikori beat Donald Young 6-2 6-4.
Jack Sock defeated Malek Jaziri in three sets while Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas upset 11th-seed David Goffin 6-3 3-6 6-3.
