Federer rolls into Indian Wells fourth round

Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a backhand in his match against Filip Krajinovic of Serbia during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (Harry How/Getty Images/AFP)

The 36-year-old Federer needed just 58 minutes as he overpowered the Serb with a brilliant display of serving and extended his perfect record this season to 14-0.

He blasted six aces had one double fault and won 89 per cent of his first serve points, losing just three points on his serve the entire match.

Federer, who is the defending champion and trying to win a record sixth title in the California desert, was on the centre stadium for the third day in a row.

His opening match on Saturday night against Federico Delbonis carried over into Sunday afternoon after heavy rains forced a postponement of several night matches.

Federer has already won two titles in 2018, claiming his 20th Grand Slam crown by winning the Australian Open in January.

In the next round he faces Jeremy Chardy who beat fellow Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.

Australian Open champ Caroline Wozniacki benefited from a challenge call in the final game en route to defeating Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark hits a forehand in her match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (HARRY How/Getty Images/AFP)

The 27-year-old world No. 2 Wozniacki moves on to the fourth round where she will face either reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens or 20th seed Daria Kasatkina of Russia.

Wozniacki silenced the critics when she claimed her first Grand Slam title earlier this year at the Australian Open, becoming the first Danish woman to win a major.

Wozniacki challenged a call in the final game when the line judge ruled that Sasnovich's shot caught the line. Wozniacki asked for a second look and the review showed that the line judge mistakenly called the ball in.

That levelled the score at 30-30 and Wozniacki won two out of the next three points she needed to take the third set and the match in the US$16 million joint WTA/ATP hardcourt tournament.

Wozniacki hit two aces and won 64 per cent of her first-serve points in the two hour, 17 minute match.

Sasnovich, of Belarus, committed 14 double faults and had her serve broken seven times.

Wozniacki had been one of seven women who held the No. 1 ranking who hadn't won a Grand Slam when she triumphed in Melbourne in January. The victory also allowed her to reclaim the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in six years.

She and Simona Halep have taken turns being No. 1 this year with Halep currently on top.

If Wozniacki wins in Indian Wells she will reclaim it.

In other women's third round matches on Monday, French seventh seed Caroline Garcia defeated Australia's Daria Gavrilova 7-5, 6-4.

Garcia advances to the round of 16 where she will face either Elena Vesnina of Russia or 10th seeded German Angelique Kerber.

Garcia is trying to improve on her best result here which is reaching the round of 16 in 2015 and last year.

Men’s third round:

Roger Federer (SUI) bt Filip Krajinovic (SRB) 6-2, 6-1

Jeremy Chardy (FRA) bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 7-5, 4-6, 6-1

Women’s third round:

Caroline Garcia (FRA) bt Daria Gavrilova (AUS) 7-5, 6-4

Danielle Collins (USA) bt Sofya Zhuk (RUS) 6-4, 6-4

Angelique Kerber (GER) bt Elena Vesnina (RUS) 7-5, 6-2

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) bt Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3