Djokovic, Nadal and Federer reach Indian Wells quarters

Indian Wells, CA – Reigning champion Novak Djokovic, Rafael round winners Wednesday at the $4.695 million BNP Paribas Masters.

What started out as a cakewalk turned into a test, as the world No. 1 Djokovic held off Spaniard Pablo Andujar 6-0, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 in 2 hours, 16 minutes at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Djokovic was not broken over three sets, while Andujar surrendered his serve five times against the reigning Australian Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon champ.

Djokovic captured his second Indian Wells title a year ago by beating Nadal in the finale. The Serbian star also titled here in 2008 and was the 2007 runner- up to Nadal.

Up next for Djokovic will be 12th-seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, who upset seventh-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-0 in 74 minutes. Almagro swatted eight aces and was not broken by the former Wimbledon runner-up on Day 7.

World No. 2 Nadal handled 21st-seeded Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 6-2. Nadal, the Indian Wells titlist in 2007 and 2009, saved all five break points he faced.

Nadal will next take on Argentine David Nalbandian, who took down sixth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Federer, who captured this event three years straight from 2004-06, rallied past Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The Swede has won 12 matches in a row and will now face ninth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarterfinals after the Argentinean outlasted Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (6-8), 6-2.

Big John Isner moved on with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Aussie qualifier Matthew Ebden. The 11th-seeded American fired 11 aces and held his serve all 11 times on Wednesday.

Isner will next do battle with 13th-seeded Gilles Simon, who beat Ryan Harrison 7-6 (7-0), 5-7, 6-1.

The 2012 Indian Wells titlist will collect $1 million.