Nadal, Wozniacki continue unbeaten run

Soderling crashes out, blames injury for loss in Indian Wells.

INDIAN WELLS:

Rafael Nadal booked a fourth-round spot by steamrolling unseeded Ryan Sweeting and looks primed to go deep in the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters 1000 event.

World number one Nadal easily beat Sweeting 6-3, 6-1 as the two-time winner put any question about his recovery from a left thigh injury to rest.

“In this tournament I have fantastic feelings,” said Nadal. “Nothing really impressive, but I played solid. You know, I didn’t have big mistakes.

“So I think today the more positive thing is I finished much better than the beginning of the match. To improve during the match is very good news.”

Spaniard Nadal advances to the next round where he will face India’s Somdev Devvarman who beat Xavier Malisse of Belgium 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/3).

Wozniacki prevails

Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki stepped up her bid to win her first Indian Wells title by snapping a spell of bad luck against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

Wozniacki, who lost to Martinez Sanchez in their three previous matches, swept past the Spaniard in straight sets 6-1, 6-3 in the California desert. Wozniacki, who needs a strong showing in Indian Wells to hold onto her number one ranking, dispatched Martinez Sanchez in just 71 minutes.

“I had to focus on my own serve,” said Wozniacki. “She has a pretty tricky serve, so once I had broken her, I just needed to keep my serve.

“I had to fight till the last point, because you never know what to expect.”

Wozniacki moves on to the fourth round where she will face Russian Alisa Kleybanova who beat 13th-seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy 6-3, 6-4.

Soderling’s campaign ends

World number four Robin Soderling became another seeded casualty as he suffered a rare loss this season with his fourth defeat in five career meetings against Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6 (10/8), 6-4.

Fourth-seed and two-time French Open finalist Soderling lost for just the second time this season which has yielded him 19 victories and an ATP Tour best three titles. Soderling blamed his loss on a foot injury he suffered in the recent Davis Cup and added he has been battling a virus in recent weeks.

“I lost the match when I decided to go out on court,” said Soderling. “Sitting here after the match I feel like I couldn’t give 100 per cent and I feel it was stupid to play.”

Sharapova outclasses  opponent

Russian 16th-seeded Maria Sharapova wasted little time booking her berth in the fourth round by routing France’s Aravane Rezai 6-2, 6-2 on centre court. After a slow start in which she lost the first two games, Sharapova hit her stride in the third game and won six straight to take the first set.

“I started like I didn’t have my cup of coffee or something,” said Sharapova.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16^th, 2011.