By Chris Oddo | Monday March 13, 2017

Stan Wawrinka is looking very dangerous at Indian Wells this year. The 31-year-old improved to 5-0 against Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber to book a first-time meeting with Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.

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Nishioka provided the biggest surprise of the day on the men’s side when he rallied from a set and 5-2 down to defeat No.13-seeded Tomas Berdych, 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.

Japan’s No.2 dealt with some daunting power against Berdych on Monday, and he’ll get more of the same, and maybe a little more from Wawrinka, who was in pretty rude form against Kohlschreiber today.

A two-time quarterfinalist at Indian Wells, Wawrinka has told reporters that he believes he’s more acclimated to the conditions in the desert than in previous years. He also says that he is aware of Nishioka’s game, even though he has never practiced with the World No.70.

“I know how he's playing – more from the baseline, using his power. It's going to be interesting,” Wawrinka said. “I never practice with him, so it's going to be the first time we're going to be against each other. So I'm sure it's going to be a good match.”

Thiem, Goffin, Monfils Move through

Dominic Thiem eased past Mischa Zverev in straight sets early on Monday, and he wasn’t really tested by the dangerous serve-and-volleyer. “He's a very tricky opponent, but I had a very good start,” Thiem said. “In general, I mean, I returned very well. Actually, probably better than I expected myself. So it was very, very good performance from the first to the last point.”

Thiem will square off with Gael Monfils in the round of 16. The Frenchman was firing on all cylinders in his straight-sets takedown of John Isner.