World number one Novak Djokovic makes it through safely in Indian Wells
Novak Djokovic secured safe passage to the last 16 of the BNP Paribas Open with a straight sets win over Phillipe Kohlschreiber.
The world number one was too strong for the German, triumphing 7-5 7-5 in 100 minutes in Indian Wells.
Djokovic is joined in the fourth round by fourth seed Rafael Nadal, who battled hard to beat compatriot Fernando Verdasco.
After blitzing the first set 6-0, Nadal had to stave off set points in the second before eventually edging a marathon tie-break (11/9) to take the match.
The former world number one and three-time winner in Indian Wells said on the tournament's official website: "I lost matches similar to this one in Australia, in Buenos Aires, in Rio de Janeiro, so it's important winning matches like this for me."
Kei Nishikori was another winner as he beat American Steve Johnson 7-6 (8/6) 7-6 (7/5) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga progressed with a 6-3 6-4 success over Sam Querrey.
John Isner was too strong for Adrian Mannarino, winning 6-4 7-6 (7/4) while in-form Dominic Thiem, who has won more ATP Tour matches than anyone else this season, edged a three-set battle with Jack Sock 7-5 6-7 (7/5) 6-1.
Elsewhere there were wins for Feliciano Lopez, who beat Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6 (7/5) 6-7 (12/10) 6-4, and Alexander Zverev - a 6-2 6-2 victor over Gilles Simon.
In the women's event, Serena Williams made light work of Kateryna Bondarenko, advancing in straight sets.
The two-time champion broke twice in each set to wrap up a 6-2 6-2 win in 73 minutes and earn a quarter-final clash with Simona Halep.
Despite the emphatic scoreline, Williams insists it was not a routine win for her.
"It definitely wasn't an easy match," Williams said. "She's obviously been a good player in the past, and she knows how to play on big courts against big players. So, it was a good match for me."
Halep booked her place in the last eight when her opponent Barbora Strycova retired early in the second set. The Romanian Halep was winning 6-3 1-0 at the time.
Johanna Konta's attempt to break into the top 20 of the rankings failed as she was beaten 7-6 (7/2) 3-6 6-3 by Karolina Piskova while third seed Agnieszka Radwanska was barely troubled in a 6-3 6-3 win over Jelena Jankovic.
Petra Kvitova need three sets to see off qualifier Nicole Gibbs, eventually triumphing 4-6 6-3 6-4.
