Delpo dumps Ferrer, Cilic crashes out of Indian Wells
14 March 2018 4:59 PM GMT
Indian Wells: Juan Martin Del Potro continued his dominance over David Ferrer to book a spot in the Indian Wells fourth round as second seed Marin Cilic suffered a shock loss.
The 29-year-old Del Potro improved to 7-6 overall against Ferrer and his five consecutive victories date back to the 2013 Wimbledon quarter-finals.
"We always play tough matches. I got lucky," said Del Potro. "I played really well in the tiebreak and served well in the important moments."
Del Potro will next face fellow Argentinian Leonardo Mayer, who defeated Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-1.
Del Potro is playing some of his best tennis in years as he improved to 13-3 on the season. In January he returned the top 10 for the first time since 2014.
He is fresh off winning his 21st career title earlier this month in Acapulco when he steamrolled his way into the final by beating three top 10 players in a row.
He capped off his Acapulco run by beating South Africa's Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-4 in the championship game.
Del Potro, the 2013 Indian Wells finalist, hammered six aces and won 87 percent of his first-serve points in the one hour, 46 minute match against Ferrer.
He says he is eager to get back to the final and lift the trophy in the California desert.
"It is one of my dreams to win this title. I have been in the final and the semis but I have never held the trophy," he said.
Elsewhere, world number three Cilic became another top seed casualty, losing in straight sets to Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-4.
The 29-year-old Cilic, who reached the finals of two of the last three Grand Slams, dropped to a record of 10-4 on the season.
Kohlschreiber advances to the fourth round where he will play unseeded Pierre-Hugues Herbert who won his third round match when fellow Frenchman Gael Monfils retired in the second set.
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