Novak Djokovic extended his match win streak to 16 and Roger Federer barely broke a sweat as they powered their way into the Indian Wells fourth round with straight-set wins but two-time women’s champ Kim Clijsters pulled out in mid-match with shoulder problems, adding to the growing list of top-seed casualties yesterday.
Djokovic capped his 6-0, 6-1 demolition of Ernests Gulbis with back-to-back aces and Federer had an equally easy time ousting Juan Ignacio Chela 6-0, 6-2 in the WTA and ATP Masters Series 1000 tournament.
The aces were a perfect exclamation point to a brilliant season so far for Djokovic who has won all 14 of his matches this year.
“I have been playing great tennis, best tennis of my life,” he said.
Djokovic, who is looking to secure his second Indian Wells title, has been unstoppable this year and is 16-0 dating back to a pair of Davis Cup matches late last season.
“I cannot ask for a better start to the year,” he said. “I mean, I’m just building up on that confidence and continuing to play well, and feeling up from that run that I have from Davis Cup final.”
He captured his second major title at the Australian Open in January and followed up with his 20th career ATP Tour title last month in Dubai.
Djokovic moved on to face his Serbian countryman and doubles partner Victor Troicki who beat France’s Michael Llodra 6-3, 6-3.
Troicki and Djokovic were due to play each other early this morning in singles before teaming up for their doubles match later in the day.
Federer was on the court just four minutes longer in the hot California desert sun than Djokovic.
Chela handed Federer the first set with a pair of double faults on the final two points on centre court. He finished with six double faults while Federer won 80 per cent of his first serve points.
“At the end, it was a great match. For me, anyway,” Federer said. “Especially on a hot day like that, you pick the right days to play well and win quickly. So I’m happy it went so well today.”
The three-time champion Federer is looking to regain his match fitness as he has played just three tournaments this year and hasn’t made the final of the last four Grand Slams.
The 16-time major winner booked his berth in the fourth round where he will play 18-year-old Ryan Harrison of the United States who held on to beat Canadian wildcard Milos Raonic 7-6 (7/1), 4-6, 6-4.
In the women’s field, second seed Clijsters retired from her fourth round match in the middle of the second set with a right shoulder injury, gifting the victory to France’s Marion Bartoli.
“I just felt on every serve or forehand that came in a little high that something was not right – that something was not supposed to be there,” Clijsters said.
Clijsters won the first set 6-3 but then called for the trainer early in the second set before packing it in 24 minutes in with Bartoli leading 3-1.
Defending champion Jelena Jankovic and reigning French Open champ Francesca Schiavone were also bounced in the fourth round, leaving just three of the top 10 seeds left at the $4.5 million WTA hardcourt tournament.
Top ranked Caroline Wozniacki did manage to sneak through, but even she had her work cut out as the Dane lost the first set before rallying to beat Alisa Kleybanova of Russia 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals. Wozniacki will face eighth seeded Victoria Azarenka, who beat Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).
The sixth-seeded Jankovic was attempting to become the first woman since Martina Navratilova (1990 and 1991) to defend her title at Indian Wells.
“I just didn’t move. I felt really stuck with my feet,” said Jankovic, who lost 6-4, 6-2 to fellow Serb Ana Ivanovic.
Ivanovic, who won the Indian Wells title in 2008, advances to the quarter-finals where she plays Bartoli.
China’s Peng Shuai, who missed much of 2010 with injuries, defeated Russian Nadia Petrova 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals. She will meet Russian Maria Sharapova who beat Dinara Safina 6-2, 6-0 in a battle of former world number ones.