Third-seeded Stan Wawrinka continued his dominance of Philipp Kohlschreiber, rolling past the German 7-5, 6-3 on Monday to reach the fourth round of the ATP Indian Wells Masters.
Wawrinka recorded his fifth victory over Kohlschreiber in as many meetings in a performance that left him cautiously encouraged about his prospects of making it past the quarterfinals in the California desert for the first time.
“It was a really good match,” said Wawrinka, who owns three Grand Slam titles but has won just one of the tour’s coveted Masters titles.
“The first set was not easy, for sure, but in general I’m happy with my game. I was serving well. I think I’m moving better and better and it’s all positive so far.”
A break in each set was enough for Wawrinka, who didn’t face a break point himself.
Wawrinka next meets with lucky loser Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan, who staged a remarkable rally to get past 13th-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.
The 21-year-old from Mie saved a match point against his own serve in the 10th game of the second set.
Eighth-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem powered into the fourth round with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Germany’s Mischa Zverev.
Thiem next faces 10th-seeded Gael Monfils, who dispatched American John Isner 6-2, 6-4.
The results:
Men: Third round: Dusan Lajovic bt Vasek Pospisil 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-5; Pablo Carreno-Busta w/o Roberto Bautista; David Goffin bt Albert Ramos 7-6(3), 6-4; Pablo Cuevas bt Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-4.
Stanislas Wawrinka bt Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 6-3; Yoshihito Nishioka bt Tomas Berdych 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4; Gael Monfils bt John Isner 6-2, 6-4; Dominic Thiem bt Mischa Zverev 6-1, 6-4.
Women: Third round: Madison Keys bt Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4; Caroline Wozniacki bt Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 6-1; Lauren Davis bt Julia Goerges 6-1, 6-4; Kristina Mladenovic bt Simona Halep 6-3, 6-3; Peng Shuai bt Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-4; Venus Williams bt Lucie Safarova 6-4, 6-2; Elena Vesnina bt Tţmea Babos 6-4, 1-6, 6-4; Angelique Kerber bt Pauline Parmentier 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 .
