INDIAN WELLS, California: Rafael Nadal survived his strongest challenge yet at the BNP Paribas Open, beating qualifier Somdev Devvarman 7-5, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals. The world's top-ranked player dominated his first two matches, dropping just six games while winning in straight sets. But he was challenged from the start by Devvarman, the first Indian ever to reach the fourth round at Indian Wells. No. 2-ranked Roger Federer, a three-time champion at Indian Wells, defeated wild card Ryan Harrison 7-6 (4), 6-3, improving to 17-2 this year. It was the 18-year-old American's third loss to a top-10 player in his career. Nadal, a two-time winner here, won a tight first set, then held serve to lead 5-4 in the second. He got some breathing room on Devvarman's serve, going up 40-love and sending a forehand past the 26-year-old Indian at the net to close out the match. “The first set for me was really bad because I wasn't able to play aggressive with my forehand,” Nadal said. “I played much better in the end of the match than in the beginning.” Nadal improved to 29-4 at Indian Wells, where he's made the semifinals or better the last five years, winning in 2007 and 2009. Novak Djokovic extended his winning streak to 15 matches with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over fellow Serb Viktor Troicki. Djokovic and Troicki later teamed up for a doubles match and lost. Eighth-seeded Andy Roddick fought his temper and No. 18 Richard Gasquet of France, losing 6-3, 7-6 (5). It was Gasquet's second win over a top-10 player this week, having taken out No. 10 Jurgen Melzer in the third round. Juan Martin del Potro beat his third seeded player, this time taking out No. 32 Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6 (3), 7-6 (7). Del Potro, from Argentina, improved his match record to 17-4 this year as he rebounds from an injury-marred 2010. Now, Del Potro is into the quarterfinals, where he will play 25th-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain. Robredo beat 21st-seeded American Sam Querrey 6-1, 6-3. In other matches, No. 7 Tomas Berdych lost in three sets to Stanislas Wawrinka, and No. 23 Albert Montanes fell to Ivo Karlovic. In women's quarterfinals, Yanina Wickmayer beat No. 10 seed Shahar Peer 6-3, 6-3 and No. 15 Marion Bartoli ended Ana Ivanovic's run with a 6-4, 7-6 (4).
