INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Top-ranked Novak Djokovic rallied to beat Pablo Andujar 6-0, 6-7 (5), 6-2 on Wednesday and reach the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open.
The two-time defending champion raced through the first set in 27 minutes before Andujar picked up his game. The Spaniard, who had lost his previous meeting against Djokovic in straight sets, held at love to even the second set 1-1, drawing encouraging cheers from the crowd at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Andujar held at 6-all to force a tiebreaker, which he won 7-5 as the Serb committed a slew of errors. Djokovic broke to open the third, then again to lead 5-2. He served out the match at 40-love, winning when Andujar’s forehand service return sailed wide.
Victoria Azarenka, the No. 1 woman in the world, was to play her quarterfinal later, and No. 2 Rafael Nadal and No. 3 Roger Federer were to play fourth-round matches to complete a parade of the world’s top players.
