Nishikori, Nadal, Federer and Djokovic advance at Paribas Open
Kei Nishikori, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer won but Marin Cilic said goodbye at Indian Wells.
Kei Nishikori reached the third round of the BNP Paribas Open and he was joined by Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Japanese fourth seed Nishikori beat Daniel Evans in straight sets at Indian Wells on Sunday. Former world number one and three-time defending champion Djokovic meanwhile prevailed over Kyle Edmund.
Routine win for Federer
Spanish fifth seed and Australian Open runner-up Rafael Nadal eased past Guido Pella, while four-time winner Federer barely broke into a sweat in his routine victory against Stephane Robert. Marin Cilic - the sixth seed and 2014 US Open champion - was upstaged by teenager Taylor Fritz in three sets.
Nishikori on fire
A finalist in Brisbane and Buenos Aires, Nishikori accounted for England's Evans 6-3 6-4. He converted four of nine break points after 85 minutes on court as he prepares to face 25th seed Gilles Muller, who defeated Jiri Vesely 7-6 (7-1) 6-1.
Djokovic was made to work for his 6-4 7-6 (7-5) win against Edmund. The Serbian second seed, who has struggled for form and consistency since his shock second-round loss at the Australian Open, was not at his best but still managed to set up a showdown with Juan Martin del Potro. The Aergentine - the 31st seed - downed Federico Delbonis 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.
Nadal cruises through
It was a routine victory for Nadal, who saw off Pella 6-3 6-2 earlier on Sunday. Runner-up at Acapulco, Nadal won the last five games to book another potentially epic meeting with fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.
There was only going to be one winner as Federer eased past French veteran Robert 6-2 6-1. The Australian Open champion used his trademark backhand and approach play to blitz the 36-year-old without facing a break point.
Fritz, the surprise package
American youngster Fritz posted the biggest win of his career after shocking Cilic 4-6 7-5 6-4. The 19-year-old dropped the opening set and had the trainer out on court but the 19-year-old never gave up for his first win against a top-10 player. While Cilic departed, Grigor Dimitrov, Nick Kyrgios, Jack Sack and Alexander Zverev were among the seeds to progress.