INDIAN WELLS, Calif., March 15 (UPI) -- Second-seeded Novak Djokovic struggled and returning champ Rafael Nadal cruised to third-round victories Monday in the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif.
Djokovic, the world No. 2 and 2008 Indian Wells men's champion, hung on to outlast 25th-seeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), staving off three match points while trailing 4-5 in the third set.
It took Djokovic 2 hours, 35 minutes to down Kohlschreiber, ending the contest on an inside-out forehand winner. His next opponent will be the winner of the match between 20th-seeded Croat Ivan Ljubicic and Argentine Brian Dabul.
World No. 3 and defending champion Nadal had little trouble in dispatching Croatia's Mario Ancic 6-2, 6-2, advancing to the fourth round. Nadal won 96 percent of his first-serve points and 86 percent of total service points in the win.
No. 21 Argentine Juan Monaco pulled off an upset over No. 11 seed and former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-3.
Indian Wells' third round will wrap up Tuesday with matches featuring world No. 1 Roger Federer, fourth-seeded Andy Murray and No. 7 Andy Roddick. Federer will face 27th-seeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.
