Djokovic, who lifted the trophy in the California desert in 2008 and 2011, was playing the 91st-ranked Colombian for the first time. He appeared to be cruising toward a win until a sloppy spell late in the second set saw Gonzalez break for a 5-3 lead and win the next game to bring the match level.
Djokovic regained control with a demoralizing break in the second game of the third set, in which Gonzalez had nine game points before the Serbian star converted his first break chance. Djokovic, 26, is seeking to jump-start a 2014 campaign that is off to a slow start.
His bid for a fourth straight Australian Open title ended in a quarter-final loss to eventual champion Stanislas Wawrinka, and he fell to Roger Federer in the semi-finals at Dubai in his only other tournament this year. He faces a potentially tough fourth-round match against Croatian Marin Cilic, who beat 16th-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-4, 6-3.
Li Na-Cibulkova clash in rematch
Meanwhile, Li Na needed 11 match points to put away Aleksandra Wozniak and book an Indian Wells clash with Dominika Cibulkova, the woman she beat in the Australian Open final.
China’s Li, the world number two and top seed in the 12 million combined ATP and WTA tournament, defeated Canada’s Wozniak 6-1, 6-4 yesterday to secure her quarter-final berth.
She steamed through the opening set in 32 minutes, but needed another hour to finally wrap up the second set against a player whose ranking has tumbled to 241st as she was sidelined by injury. All 11 of Li’s match points came in the final game.
Djokovic regained control with a demoralizing break in the second game of the third set, in which Gonzalez had nine game points before the Serbian star converted his first break chance. Djokovic, 26, is seeking to jump-start a 2014 campaign that is off to a slow start.
His bid for a fourth straight Australian Open title ended in a quarter-final loss to eventual champion Stanislas Wawrinka, and he fell to Roger Federer in the semi-finals at Dubai in his only other tournament this year. He faces a potentially tough fourth-round match against Croatian Marin Cilic, who beat 16th-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-4, 6-3.
Li Na-Cibulkova clash in rematch
Meanwhile, Li Na needed 11 match points to put away Aleksandra Wozniak and book an Indian Wells clash with Dominika Cibulkova, the woman she beat in the Australian Open final.
China’s Li, the world number two and top seed in the 12 million combined ATP and WTA tournament, defeated Canada’s Wozniak 6-1, 6-4 yesterday to secure her quarter-final berth.
She steamed through the opening set in 32 minutes, but needed another hour to finally wrap up the second set against a player whose ranking has tumbled to 241st as she was sidelined by injury. All 11 of Li’s match points came in the final game.