Indian Wells: Djokovic, Nadal in fourth round

World number one Djokovic claimed his eighth win in nine meetings with Philipp Kohlschreiber. Nadal avenged his Australian Open loss to Fernando Verdasco by winning their all-Spanish encounter.

Serbian Novak Djokovic (in picture) was stretched a bit by Philipp Kohlschreiber, as he needed two breaks in each set to overcome the latter.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal recorded straight-sets wins to reach the BNP Paribas Open fourth round.

World number one Djokovic claimed his eighth win in nine meetings with Philipp Kohlschreiber thanks to his victory at Indian Wells on Tuesday. Nadal avenged his Australian Open loss to Fernando Verdasco by winning their all-Spanish encounter.

There were also wins for Kei Nishikori and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on a relatively straightforward day at the ATP 1000 event.

BIG NAMES DOMINATE

Djokovic and Nadal were the men to watch and they delivered. Serbian Djokovic needed two breaks in each set to get past Kohlschreiber once more, winning 7-5 7-5.

Watch: Before >#Djokovic could win the 1st set, he and >#Kohlschreiber engaged in a point of cat and mouse... and cat >https://t.co/aX8xD5MJDz

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) >March 16, 2016

Nadal, a shock first-round loser to Verdasco at Melbourne Park, saved five set points in a 6-0 7-6 (11-9) triumph that was his 15th in 18 meetings against his Spanish countryman. Nishikori was pushed in a 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) win over Steve Johnson, while Tsonga was too good for Sam Querrey in a 6-3 6-4 victory.

SEEDS EXIT

Joining Johnson, Kohlschreiber and Querrey as seeded departures were Roberto Bautista Agut, Jack Sock and Gilles Simon. The in-form Bautista Agut's loss was the biggest surprise, as he went down to Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (10-12) 6-4.

Sock's fightback against Dominic Thiem was brief as he lost 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 to the Austrian. Simon was no match for the man Nadal will face next as Alexander Zverev crushed the Frenchman 6-2 6-2.

SERVE THE KEY

John Isner sent down 15 aces in a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory over Adrian Mannarino. Nadal lost just six return points in the first set against Verdasco before being challenged in the second.

HAPPY NADAL LAUDS ZVEREV

Nadal was pleased to come through his clash against Verdasco, saying: "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."

He is always full of praise for his opponent, but Nadal had special words for 18-year-old German Zverev. "He's a clear possible future number one," he said.

GIANTS BACK IN ACTION

The clash between Nadal and Zverev will be one to watch as the duo meet for the first time. Djokovic takes on Feliciano Lopez and Marin Cilic does battle with Richard Gasquet in a meeting between two top-10 seeds.