Djokovic Saves Three Match Points To Defeat Kohlschreiber

© Getty ImagesNovak Djokovic converted on all four of his break point chances.

World No. 2 Novak Djokovic survived a rollercoaster third-round match Monday at the BNP Paribas Open, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, saving three match points against German Philipp Kohlschreiber before prevailing 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(3) in two hours and 35 minutes.

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Djokovic appeared on his way out of the draw when Kohlschreiber won nine straight games to build a 3-0 lead in the third set, but then recovered to win the next four games. The momentum swung dangerously back in Kohlschreiber’s favor as he broke to return the match to serve at 4-4, and then earned triple match point in Djokovic’s next service game.

But the second-seeded Serb, who was upset by Kohlschreiber in straight sets last year at Roland Garros, maintained his composure to dig himself out of the 0/40 hole. He immediately grabbed the lead in the tie-break, and pulled through for the victory as he delivered a winner on his first of three match points.

Djokovic, who won all four of his break points in the match while fighting off nine of the 14 faced on serve, said: “He was playing well most of the second and third set. But when I needed to, I did the work, served well, made some good approaches from forehand side.”

The 22 year old also saved three match points last year against Radek Stepanek in the Basel semi-finals before going on to claim the title with victory over Roger Federer.

Djokovic, the 2008 Indian Wells champion, improved to a 7-1 record in matches decided in a third set this season and also extended his winning streak to nine straight matches. He won the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships two weeks ago, and followed with wins in his two singles rubbers to lead Serbia past the U.S. in Davis Cup action.

“It's a fact that I'm not feeling the ball 100 percent,” said Djokovic. “It's a sport. You cannot always play your best. Still, considering the last couple of weeks that I had, it's normal that I dropped the level of game a little bit.”

Djokovic next meets 20th-seeded Croat Ivan Ljubicic, who crushed 17 aces in a 6-2, 6-3 win over Argentine qualifier Brian Dabul. The 30-year-old Ljubicic, who attained a career-high No. 3 ranking in 2006, has now reached the fourth round in Indian Wells for six straight years.

In the longest match thus far at this year’s BNP Paribas Open, Argentine Juan Monaco edged past former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-3 in three hours and one minute on Stadium 2. The 11th-seeded Ferrero prevented Monaco from serving out the match at 5-1, but the No. 21 seed would not be denied a second time.

The two players were facing off for the third successive ATP World Tour event. Ferrero had defeated Monaco in the semi-finals of the Copa Telmex in Buenos Aires and the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco, contributing to his 14-match winning streak during the Latin American clay court swing.

Monaco next meets Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, who defeated No. 26 seed Thomaz Bellucci 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. Garcia-Lopez had upset World No. 9 Marin Cilic in the second round.