By Erik Gudris | Tuesday, March 17, 2015

 

Milos Raonic overcame a tricky opponent to reach the last sixteen in Indian Wells. American Jack Sock also made it there with a three set win.

Photo Credit: Getty 

A pair of young tennis stars on the ATP tour now find themselves in the round of sixteen at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California.

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Canada's Milos Raonic found himself facing a player who beat him at the event last year. But the No. 6 seed this time found a way to be the winner.

Raonic took on Alexandr Dolgopolov who beat him at the tournament in 2014 en route to reaching the semifinals. Yet Raonic looked better prepared for the encounter with the shotmaking Ukrainian.

After taking the first set in a tiebreak, Raonic fought off break points against him in the second set. Raonic earned the crucial break in the set before taking the match 7-6(2), 6-4.

"I'm happy with the way I dealt with the situations," Raonic said on the match. "Big difference from last year was he neutralized my serve really well. There was a big focus on let's get that right first, and then the rest of the game will follow. I was really aware of that, to try to make a difference to try and stay on top of him."

Raonic will now face No. 17 seed Tommy Robredo in the fourth round. The Spanish veteran upset No. 11 seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 1-6, 7-5.

American Jack Sock continues to enjoy his season debut in the desert.

Sock knocked out No. 15 seed Roberto Bautista Agut 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the fourth round of the event.

"Like I said all week, I feel confident in my body; trust it fully now. I said earlier I think maybe a few years ago I maybe got a little more discouraged after a first set, losing a first set, not trusting it fully, or having to conserve some energy to possibly go three or whatever circumstance happens," Sock said about the win. "Yeah, I feel great about it now."

Sock is making his season debut at Indian Wells due to dealing with injury at the start of the year and then being with his brother Eric who survived a near-fatal illness.

"When you're out there and you get frustrated missing a ball or whatever it is, you can kind of think (of what) he's been through, almost not making it, to a kind of miraculous recovery. It puts things in perspective. Just go out there and enjoy it, and you can play a little more free," Sock said to ESPN about his brother earlier in the week.

Waiting for Sock could be a first-time meeting against Roger Federer in the next round.

"He's done some pretty incredible things. Won every tournament he possibly can, pretty much. I think he's kind of a walking legend. Hopefully, if he can get it done tonight, then, you know, I look forward to it tomorrow," Sock said about the potential matchup.

Other winners earlier in the day included No. 3 seed Rafael Nadal and No. 9 seed Tomas Berdych.