19 March 2009 - Indian Wells, CA - Three-time champion Roger Federer, defending champion Novak Djokovic and seventh-seeded American Andy Roddick were fourth-round winners Wednesday at the $4.5 million BNP Paribas Open, the ATP World Tour's first Masters event of the year.
The second-seeded and former world No. 1 Federer snuck past 17th-seeded Chilean slugger Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 on the hardcourts at the beautiful Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
The reigning five-time U.S. Open champion Federer advanced in 1 hour, 49 minutes with the help of three services breaks, while Gonzalez could manage only one break en route to his 12th loss in 13 tries against the super Swiss.
The 27-year-old Federer captured the Indian Wells title from 2004-06.
Federer's quarterfinal opponent will be surging 10th-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, who snuck past German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 on Day 7.
The third-seeded Serbian Djokovic defeated 16th-seeded Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (8-6). Djokovic beat American Mardy Fish in last year's Indian Wells finale and was the '07 runner-up to top-ranked Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic moved to 5-2 lifetime against Wawrinka and will have a quarterfinal match against Roddick, who topped 12th-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer, 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-3.
Fourth-seeded Brit Andy Murray improved to a stellar 18-1 this season by getting past 15th-seeded Tommy Robredo 6-2, 3-0, as the Spaniard retired in the second set due to a right wrist injury. The two-time 2009 ATP World Tour titlist Murray was last year's U.S. Open runner-up to Federer.
Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, the sixth seed, downed towering American John Isner, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3), while 10th seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain beat Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
Also Wednesday, Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic reached the quarterfinals by ousting 22nd-seeded Russian Igor Andreev, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4). Ljubicic will meet Murray next, while Federer plays Verdasco.
Nadal, the reigning Australian Open, Wimbledon and French Open champion who titled here in 2007, was due to play the late match Wednesday against Argentine David Nalbandian, the 14th seed. Nalbandian has never lost to Nadal in two all-time meetings.
The 2009 Indian Wells champion will claim $605,500. |
