Big three advance

Rafael Nadal raced into the Indian Wells quarter-finals with a dominating win, while Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer needed three sets each to beat unseeded opponents.

Tennis’ big three progressed in the California desert with world No. 2 Nadal storming into the quarters by beating 21st seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 6-2 in just 76 minutes.

World number three Federer scrambled for the second-straight day to eliminate an up-and-comer he was facing for the first time, coming from behind to beat Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Defending champ and world No. 1 Djokovic lost a second set tie-breaker en route to a 6-0, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 win over Pablo Andujar.

“In the end I was lucky to get through some points,” said Djokovic, who has won the last three Grand Slams. “I am happy to go through to the next round.”

In the quarter-finals, Djokovic will face Nicolas Almagro, who surprised seventh seeded Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-0.

Nadal next plays unseeded David Nalbandian of Argentina, who came from behind to stun sixth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Federer is chasing his fourth Indian Wells title after winning three straight times from 2004-2006. He next faces ninth seed Juan Martin del Potro who outlasted Denis Istomin 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (6/8), 6-2 in a two hour, 45 minute night match.

American John Isner defeated Australia’s Matthew Ebden 6-4, 7-5.

In the women’s tournament, French Open champion Li Na, playing in her first event since pulling out of the Paris Indoor Open, exited the WTA Indian Wells event, losing 6-4, 6-2 to Angelique Kerber.

China’s Li, the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam title, suffered her first loss to Germany’s Kerber in four career meetings. All three previous contests were in 2010.

Kerber next faces world number one Victoria Azarenka, who dismantled Agnieszka Radwanska, of Poland, 6-0, 6-2.