Novak Djokovic survives scare to see off qualifier Bjorn Fratangelo in Indian Wells

ByDesmond Kane

Updated 14/03/2016 at 08:25 GMT

Novak Djokovic lost the first set before the world number one completed a 2-6 6-1 6-2 win over American qualifier Bjorn Fratangelo in the second round at the Indian Wells Masters.

"All credit to Bjorn on playing a great match, but I wasn't feeling comfortable at all on the court," said Djokovic, who is on a 12-match winning streak at Indian Wells and is chasing a third straight title at a tournament he has won four times.

"I was just trying to find a way, trying to hang in there and make it through."

Fratangelo is ranked 149 in the world, and competes mainly on the satellite tours.

Indian Wells Masters

Indian Wells CEO: Federer and Nadal have carried the sport

00:01:39

|

21/03/2016 at 19:06

Fratangelo, 22, was 4-0 ahead in the opening set before Serbia's Djokovic turned the screw by finding peak form in the second and third sets when he won the final five games of the match.

Djokovic will face Philipp Kohlschreiber in the last 32.

"He deserved every point he got," said Djokovic. "He played a great match, especially in the first set."

Rafael Nadal reached the third round of the Indian Wells Masters with a 6-2 2-6 6-4 win over world number 45 left-hander Gilles Muller.

"He's a very, very difficult player, especially in these conditions," said Nadal.

"It's very, very difficult to play. You have to be focused all the time and put as many balls in the court as you can and wait for your moment."

[Rafael Nadal to sue over doping claims]

Nadal will meet fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the third round, a player who beat him in the first round of the Australian Open in January.

Rafael Nadal at Indian Wells

Image credit: AFP

"I need to play better in the next match," said Nadal. "I play against a tough opponent. He beat me in Australia this year."

Kei Nishikori cruised past Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3 6-3.

The Japanese player needed just 70 minutes as he converted four of his five break points and improved his record at a tournament that has not been kind to him.

"I've never done well in Indian Wells but I'm becoming better feeling, so should be good this year," he said. "I'm not the biggest server on the tour, so I try to mix it up, try not to panic, stay relaxed and focused."

Frenchmen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon both advanced with victories, as did Spain's Feliciano Lopez.

German 18-year-old Alexander Zverev knocked off 23rd seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 3-6 7-5.

Results from the Indian Wells Men's Singles Round 2 matches on Sunday

9-John Isner (U.S.) beat Andreas Seppi (Italy) 7-6(1) 6-4

16-Gilles Simon (France) beat Vasek Pospisil (Canada) 1-6 6-0 6-1

31-Sam Querrey (U.S.) beat Thiemo de Bakker (Netherlands) 7-6(5) 6-4

5-Kei Nishikori (Japan) beat Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan) 6-3 6-3

7-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat Vincent Millot (France) 7-5 6-1

Alexander Zverev (Germany) beat 23-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) 6-4 3-6 7-5

Adrian Mannarino (France) beat 19-Benoit Paire (France) 6-1 6-3

11-Dominic Thiem (Austria) beat Jozef Kovalik (Slovakia) 7-6(4) 7-6(3)

14-Roberto Bautista (Spain) beat Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) walkover

30-Steve Johnson (U.S.) beat John Millman (Australia) 6-4 6-2

Fernando Verdasco (Spain) beat 25-Martin Klizan (Slovakia) 5-3 (Klizan retired)

1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Bjorn Fratangelo (U.S.) 2-6 6-1 6-2

21-Jack Sock (U.S.) beat Michael Berrer (Germany) 6-2 6-4

27-Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) beat Denis Kudla (U.S.) 6-0 6-1

18-Feliciano Lopez (Spain) beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (Spain) 6-2 6-2

Indian Wells Masters

Imperious Djokovic thumps Raonic to win fifth title in Indian Wells

20/03/2016 at 22:49

Indian Wells Masters

Azarenka stuns erratic Williams in Indian Wells final

20/03/2016 at 23:12

Indian Wells Masters

Djokovic beats Nadal to set up Indian Wells final against Raonic

20/03/2016 at 07:36