Today’s Men’s News (3/12) – Indian Wells

Written by: Staff on 12th March 2013

Today's Men's News (3/12) - Indian Wells

epa03458277 Argentina´s Leonardo Mayer returns the ball to Italy´s Paolo Lorenzi during the final of the Challenger Internacional in Medellin, Colombia, 04 November 2012. Lorenzi won 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4) and 6-4. EPA/Luis Eduardo Noriega |

Indian Wells

It was an unsettling shake, rattle and role for Europeans unused to Southern California conditions as a 4.7 level earthquake struck the site an hour before the start of third-round play. Rafael Nadal, later the beneficiary of a walkover as Argentine Leo Mayer withdrew from their match with a bad back, admitted that he was more than a bit surprised.

“I was very scared, first time in my life (for an earthquake),” said the Spaniard who is into the fourth round after playing only one match, saving his knees some stress and strain, “I was on the massage table preparing for my warmup. I think the massage table moved even worse more, my legs were shaking.”

It was smooth as usual for holder Roger Federer as the Swiss second seed crushed Ivan Dodig 6-3, 6-1, the Croatian ending with a double-fault as the four-time champion advanced on schedule. “It was almost a perfect day for tennis, nice for everyone. I like it warm, and there were no clouds and not much wind,” said Federer, winner of his 41st match at the event.

Third-round matches followed the formbook, with Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych, loser a week ago in the final of Dubai to Novak Djokovic, advancing over German Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-1, French tenth seed Richard Gasquet beat Pole Jerzey Janowicz 6-1, 6-4.

South African Kevin Anderson, who underwent elbow surgery in Melbourne last January, improved to 4-0 over Finn Jarkko Nieminen with a 6-3, 6-1 while Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis, winner of his 12 previous matches, made it 13 in a row, beating Italian Andreas Seppi for the fourth time in five meetings 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.