Roger Federer earned a modicum of revenge against Andreas Seppi in a 6-3 6-4 triumph that advanced the four-time champion to the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.
In the women’s event, Maria Sharapova fell victim to an emotional Flavia Pennetta, who burst into tears before regaining her composure to stun the second seed 3-6 6-3 6-2 .
Federer lost to the Italian at the Australian Open in January but allowed no such repeat as he lost just one service game and needed 82 minutes to beat Seppi and advance to fourth round.
Rafa Nadal also advanced with a sloppy triumph over American Donald Young 6-4 6-2.
Nadal, a three-time champion at Indian Wells, looked out of sorts in the opening set slamming an easy overhead into the net to give Young an early break and then later double-faulting to hand over another.
But the 47th ranked Young was no better at finding the target saving just two of eight break points as a fist-pumping Nadal walked off Stadium court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden with the victory.
While the opening set was a comedy of unforced errors the second saw Nadal flash some of his top form as he raced to a 5-1 lead closing out the match in a tidy 80 minutes.
“It’s true that I had a few mistakes. I was able to find solutions,” Nadal told reporters. “I’ve played a lot of good tournaments here, good results.
“I am confident and I hope that tomorrow I can play a good match.”
Ninth seeded Czech Tomas Berdych had earlier kicked off another sunny day of action with a straightforward 6-4 6-2 win over American Steve Johnson.
Jack Sock, however, will carry the American flag into the round of 16 after rallying past 15th seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 3-6 6-3 6-2.
France’s 13th seed Gilles Simon scored a comfortable 6-2 7-5 victory over German qualifier Michael Berrer.
Czech Lukas Rosol was a 6-4 6-7 (4) 7-6 (3) winner over Dutchman Robin Haase, while Spain’s Tommy Robredo beat 11th seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 1-6 7-5 in the final match.
Italy’s Pennetta, the defending champion at Indian Wells, left the court momentarily after breaking down following her first set loss.
“Sometimes women have these moments. (I) just go and let everything out, screaming...” Pennetta told reporters. “I just breathe and just let it pass.”
When the 15th seeded Pennetta returned she seized the momentum, going on to win 10 of the last 13 games to blaze past the two-time champion Sharapova and into the last eight.
Serena wins
Earlier, top seed Serena Williams overcame a wobbly start to see off a determined Sloane Stephens 6-7(3) 6-2 6-2 and move into the last eight.
Williams, playing her third match at Indian Wells after deciding to end a 14-year boycott of the event where she had suffered alleged racist abuse, enjoyed plenty of support but struggled early to find her form.
Other results (last 16)
Murray (Britain) bt Mannarino (France) 6-3 6-3; Lopez (Spain) bt Nishikori (Japan) 6-4 7-6 (2).