Rafa Nadal and Maria Sharapova were both knocked out of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells after stunning upsets at one of the world’s biggest tournaments outside the four grand slams.
Nadal was sent packing by Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3 3-6 7-6 after Sharapova fell to Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi 6-3 4-6 7-5 as the 2013 men’s and women’s singles champions crashed out.
Nadal blew a 4-2 lead in the deciding tiebreak after the Spaniard had fought his way back from 5-2 down in the deciding third set.
“I wanted to play very well here. I had good success in this tournament in the past, a tournament I always feel good about,” said Nadal, who will now turn his attention to the Sony Open in south Florida.
Nadal beat Dolgopolov in the final of the inaugural Rio Open last month but the Ukrainian got his revenge on the world number one in the Californian desert.
“I feel great, as after every win, of course. I beat the defending champion and the number one in the world,” said Dolgopolov, whose next opponent is Fabio Fognini after the Italian saved two match points in a 6-2 3-6 7-5 win over Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Giorgi, a 22-year-old ranked 79th in the world, made the fourth round of the US Open last year as a qualifier, but her win over the world number five Russian was the biggest of her career.
Giorgi will play her countrywoman Flavia Pennetta in the next round after she beat Australian Sam Stosur 6-4 3-6 6-1.
There were no other major surprises although Britain’s Andy Murray was forced to dig deep to see off promising Czech Jiri Vesely and avoid a similar fate.
The Wimbledon champion won 6-7 6-4 6-4 but only after clawing back from the brink of defeat against the 20-year-old Vesely.
Murray will play Canada’s big-serving Milos Raonic in the next round.
Roger Federer also advanced after he was pushed all the way by Russia’s Dmitry Tursunov before winning 7-6 7-6.
Federer will play either German Tommy Haas or Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the fourth round.
China’s Li Na, the top seed in the women’s draw, had no problems booking her place in the fourth round, beating Karolina Pliskova 6-3 6-4.
Despite dishing up nine double-faults and having her own service broken twice, Li was far too strong and streetwise for Pliskova, wrapping up the win with an ace.
Li’s next opponent is Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniak.