Tomic, Kokkinakis into 4th Round at Indian WellsMarch 20, 2015

Bernard Tomic and Thanasi Kokkinakis won their third round matches at the 2015 BNP Paribas Open last Tuesday, setting up an exciting fourth round match and a possible quarterfinal meeting with Novak Djokovic.

Tomic, a native of Gold Coast, posted a 7-5, 6-4 upset victory over David Ferrer of Spain. The eighth seed is currently has the most number of titles this year, winning the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco a few weeks ago. Kokkinakis, who gained a direct entry into the main draw after the withdrawal of Juan Martin del Potro, prevailed over Juan MÃ³naco in three sets, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5).

Djokovic, the defending champion, is on course to reach his fifth successive semifinals in this event, winning over Albert Ramos of Spain, 7-5, 6-3. Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori are also on the top half of the draw. Both players might meet in the quarters, and either one may play the top-ranked Serb in the semis. Both needed three sets to advance to the fourth round. (Andy Murray prevailed over Philipp Kohlschreiber, while Kei Nishikori edged Fernando Verdasco.)

Lleyton Hewitt is the last Aussie player to reach the finals in Indian Wells, which is way back to 2005. Either Tomic or Kokkinakis could be the next to lift the champion's trophy (after Hewitt, Mark Philippoussis, John Alexander, and John Newcombe). Both players propelled Australia into the Davis Cup quarterfinals last weekend, and their watershed victories in the third round showed a bright future for Australian men's tennis.

First week results

*Nick Kyrgios would miss the Miami Masters next week due to ankle injury. The Australian Open quarterfinalist lost his second-round match against Grigor Dimitrov.

*Marin ÄŒiliÄ‡, the reigning US Open champion, lost his opening match to MÃ³naco. It was his first match of the year after being sidelined from arm and shoulder injury.

*Donald Young will play Rafael Nadal in the third round after knocking out Jeremy Chardy, the 31st seed, in the previous round. It's his best showing in the tournament. The native of Atlanta also reached the third round in Indian Wells back in 2011, where he defeated Murray in the second round.

*Stan Wawrinka was the highest seed to pack his bag, losing his opening match to Robin Haase of the Netherlands, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

*Roger Federer and Michael Lammer, members of the winning Swiss team in the Davis Cup finals last November, were granted a wildcard entry in the men's doubles. They lost their opening match to Poland's Marcin Matkowski and Serbia's Nenad ZimonjiÄ‡, 6-3, 3-6, [11-9].

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