Federer wins Indian Wells opener, Nishikori survives three-setter

Roger Federer began his campaign for a record sixth Indian Wells title by defeating German Peter Gojowczyk 6-1 7-5 in the BNP Paribas Open in California on Sunday.
Fresh from earning his 100th ATP singles title a week ago in Dubai, the Swiss fourth seed repelled a tough second set challenge from the world No. 85 to book his third-round place.
World number two Rafa Nadal brushed aside American Jared Donaldson 6-1 6-1 and will next face Diego Schwartzman after the Argentine beat Roberto Carballes 6-3 6-1.

Earlier in the day, Japan’s Kei Nishikori narrowly avoided a second round defeat to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino before battling through 6-4 4-6 7-6(4).
Federer said he was happy to get into his stride early in the tournament.
“For the first round I actually felt really good,” he told reporters. “If I maybe would have served a little bit better, I think things would have gone faster.
“But at the end it was a tough second set, and it’s maybe exactly what I needed.”
Federer, who won the last of his Indian Wells titles two years ago but lost in the 2018 final, used his backhand slice to keep Gojowczk from gaining any rhythm in the first set.
Yet the second proved more of a challenge as the German saved four break points in his first service game, then used his momentum to break for a 3-1 lead.
Federer immediately broke back before later benefiting from an untimely double fault for another break and serving out for victory in just over an hour and a quarter.
Eighth seeded American John Isner swept past Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-0 6-2, 10th seeded Croatian Marin Cilic beat Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-3 6-4, while Russia’s 14th seed Danill Medvedev beat American Mackenzie McDonald 7-5 6-0.

Halep advances, Serena retires ill
World number two Simona Halep survived a tough challenge from Ukrainian qualifier Kateryna Kozlova to win their third round match 7-6(3) 7-5 at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, on Sunday.
The Romanian finally put away the 114th ranked Kozlova with eight consecutive points in the second set, a backhand winner proving the decider just as it had in the first set.
The tournament lost 23-times Grand Slam winner Serena Williams, who retired against Garbine Muguruza with what organisers described as a viral illness. The Spaniard was ahead 6-3 1-0 at the time.
Halep said her opponent had been tough to put away.
The victory advanced the French Open champion, who won Indian Wells in 2015, to the fourth round for the fifth time in six years.
Former Wimbledon and French Open champion Muguruza was happy with the way she had been playing against Williams before the American’s retirement.
“I think I played well,” she said. “I’m going to take the positive side of that.”
Sixth seed Elina Svitolina, looking for her first title of the year, beat Daria Gavrilova 7-5 6-4 to advance while world number seven Kiki Bertens reached the fourth round at Indian Wells for the first time after a 7-6(10) 6-4 win over Briton Johanna Konta. (Reuters)