Roger Federer to play Rafa Nadal in Indian Wells fourth round

Updated 15/03/2017 at 10:48 GMT

Roger Federer has teed up a mouth-watering fourth-round meeting with Rafa Nadal at Indian Wells thanks to a straight-set win over Steve Johnson in the Paribas Open.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

Image credit: Reuters

Federer didn’t have it all his own way against his American third-round opponent, but emerged from two tie-breaks to take a 7-6 7-6 win and set up the clash that fans had been hoping for.

Roger and Rafa’s reunion will be their first meeting since January’s thrilling Australian Open Final and the first time the pair have met before the quarterfinal stage of a tournament since 2004.

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Nadal, who beat compatriot Fernando Verdasco 6-3 7-5 to reach the fourth round, is fully aware of the challenges that Federer will pose:

He has the talent to do very difficult things that look easy. He's able to take the ball very early. Serve and first shot, he creates a lot of winners with that, the two first shots.

And Federer, who has reached three of the last five finals at the California event, says he is excited about the prospect of facing his old sparring partner.

That's why I came here, to play against guys like Rafa. Now we have it. I'm going to be excited now, I'd better be excited now otherwise I came for the wrong reasons. I try to see it really as another opportunity to build upon something for the rest of the season. So regardless of Australia, winning or losing, I'm going to try to go out there and try to play free again. I think it's really important.

Wednesday’s meeting is the fifth scheduled match on court at Stadium 1, with the day’s play starting at 18:00 GMT.

Indian Wells Men's Fourth Round Draw

Young v Nishikori
Kyrgios v Djokovic
Nadal v Federer
Monfils v Thiem
Goffin v Cuevas
Jaziri v Sock
Wawrinka v Nishioka
Lajovic v Carreno-Busta

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