Djokovic, Nadal Reach BNP Paribas Quarterfinals

World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic moved into the BNP Paribas Open quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in Indian Wells on Wednesday.

Djokovic was just too sharp all night for Lopez. He won 79 percent of his first serve points and did not face a single break point throughout the match. He took advantage of a somewhat fatigued Lopez, who played a long three-setter in his third round match, winning more than half of the points on Lopez’s second serve and breaking the Spaniard three times.

“I’m glad to have a match like this, without many complications,” said Djokovic. “I managed to step in a return very well … even though Feliciano is a very difficult player to play against. He’s left handed and he has a big first serve and he can hit angles, comes to the net. He’s very strong and moves well. But I was very solid. I didn’t allow him to come to the net too many times. It was a good performance.”

In the quarterfinals, Djokovic will take on seventh-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who ousted 11th seed Dominic Thiem 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday.

Fourth-seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal had to come back from a set down in an up-and-down contest, eventually outlasting German teenager Alexander Zverev 6-7(8), 6-0, 7-5 to book his spot in the quarterfinals.

“A great victory…I’m very happy about it,” Nadal said. “I am especially happy about the mentality on court, the spirit of fight during the whole match, believing that I can win a match during the whole time even in the tougher situations.”

Nadal will face off with Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the final eight. The fifth-seed came back from a set down to outlast big-serving American John Isner 1-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(5).

Belgium’s David Goffin notched the first top five victory of his career, getting past third-seed Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5) to earn a spot in the quarterfinals where he will play 10th seed Marin Cilic.

The Croat ousted eighth-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet 7-5, 5-7, 6-2.

Milos Raonic continued his excellent play in 2016, getting past sixth-seed Tomas Berdych in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(7). The 12th seeded Canadian will take on 13th seed Gael Monfils, a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Federico Delbonis on Wednesday.