Wawrinka into fourth round
Nishioka stages remarkable rally to get past Berdych
Stan Wawrinka breezed into the fourth round of the ATP Indian Wells Masters on Monday and saw another seed removed from his path to the final when lucky loser Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan turned his match against Tomas Berdych upsidedown.
The Swiss third seed romped past Philipp Kohlschreiber 7- 5, 6- 3 and will next face Nishioki rather than Berdych after the 21- year- old Japanese overcame a 6- 1, 5- 2 deficit for a stunning 1- 6, 7- 6 ( 7/ 5), 6- 4 win over the 13th- seeded Czech.
The top half of the draw has already lost world No. 1 Andy Murray and offers rather smoother sailing than a bottom half, which features multiple Grand Slam winners Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Wawrinka needed just 78 minutes to improve his career record against Germany’s Kohlschreiber to 5- 0, whipping a trademark backhand winner down the line to end the thirdround contest.
“I was serving well,” the 31- year- old said. “I think I’m moving better and better, and it’s all positive so far.
“I’m feeling good in my body, so that’s the most important.”
Nishioka, who gave Nadal a run for his money in Acapulco at the start of the month, surprised even himself with his victory over Berdych.
“I tried to do my best, but today I couldn’t figure out how could I beat Berdych,” Nishioka said. “I tried to find a way, and then I think he gave me a little bit of a chance.
“My body was feeling like I cannot move that much, but I just stayed focused and tried to fight. And then I found a way.”
Berdych held match point on Nishioka’s serve in the 10th game of the second set, before the Japanese rallied to level the contest in a tiebreaker.
After trading breaks at the start of the decider, Nishioka broke again for a 2- 1 lead and did not look back.
Eighth seed Dominic Thiem of Austria made it through to the fourth round by beating Germany’s Mischa Zverev 6- 1, 6- 4 in less than an hour.
Two days after ousting top seed Murray, Vasek Pospisil’s run in Indian Wells came to an end as he fell to fellow qualifier Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6- 7 ( 4/ 7), 6- 3, 7- 5. Pospisil served for the match at 5- 3 in the third set but was broken to love, and the Canadian also squandered a match point in the 10th game before Lajovic prevailed.
Lajovic will face Pablo Carreno Busta, who earned a free pass into the fourth round after fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut withdrew before their match due to an abdominal muscle injury.