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March 14, 2013

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Djokovic, Azarenka extend win streaks

TOP-RANKED Novak Djokovic defeated Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (4), 6-1 to reach the fourth round at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, on Tuesday with his 20th consecutive victory.

Defending women's champion Victoria Azarenka extended her own streak despite a nagging ankle problem, defeating Poland's Urszula Radwanska 6-3, 6-1 for her 17th straight win.

No. 3 Briton Andy Murray beat Lu Yen-hsun of Chinese Taipei 6-3, 6-2 in their first meeting in five years.

No. 8 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark defeated Russian No. 10 Nadia Petrova 7-6 (3), 6-3 to set up a quarterfinal against Azarenka that matches former top-ranked players against each other.

Djokovic trailed 3-5 in the first set when the 21-year-old Bulgarian committed six double-faults, including four in one game, to help the Serb force the tiebreaker. Djokovic won it on a backhand error by the youngest player remaining in the draw.

Djokovic moves on to play Sam Querrey, a 7-6 (5), 6-7 (7), 7-5 winner over Australian Marinko Matosevic.

Djokovic hasn't lost since October 31, when Querrey beat him at the Paris Masters. Querrey is poised to take over as the top-ranked American in the men's game - albeit not in the top 10 - from Mardy Fish, who lost 6-7 (4), 6-7 (0) to No. 8 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.

"I really felt the match could have been a completely different scoreline pretty easily," Fish said. "That's why you're a little disappointed."

Azarenka was clearly bothered by her ankle, wincing after shots. She also has a stuffy nose.

"I could overcome those things and manage to take these chances in the important moments and really go for my shots, to make that happen, not to wait for her mistake," the Belarussian said. "Because at some point I was waiting for her mistake, and I can't do that. She wasn't missing because she's a very, very consistent player, so I decided to just take everything in my own hands and see where it takes me."

No. 2 Maria Sharapova of Russia joined Azarenka in the quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-0 win over Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino of Spain.


 

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