By Erik Gudris | Tuesday, March 11, 2014

 

Despite surprising many by dropping the second set, Novak Djokovic avoided becoming yet another upset at the BNP Paribas Open.

Photo Credit: AP

With fans at the BNP Paribas Open still buzzing about the exit of top seed Rafael Nadal on Monday night, some wondered if another shock upset was on the cards Tuesday afternoon.

That didn't seem the case at first when No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic rolled over world No. 91 Alejandro Gonzalez in the opening set of their third round meeting.

Djokovic punctuated the 6-1 first set by closing it out with an ace.

Djokovic then appeared to lose focus in the second set. That allowed Gonzalez to take the initiative and claim the second set. After attempting to hold on to his serve in the opening game of the final set, Gonzalez found himself broken for 2-0.

Djokovic didn't let go of the momentum this time as he soon surged to a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 win.

“It took me a little bit (of time) to get used to his game," Djokovic said to ATP.com. "But I thought I played really well from the start. Then suddenly I just had a big loss of concentration and allowed him to win the second set for no reason. Then I bounced back better in the third."

Djokovic will need to keep his focus for his next match against red-hot Marin Cilic, who took out Tommy Robredo 6-4, 6-3.

Cilic is now the first ATP player this season to score 20 wins.

Spaniards Advance into Fourth Round

Though Nadal is gone, Spain continues to enjoy seeing several of its players still left in the draw doing well.

No. 30 seed Fernando Verdasco pulled off the mild upset over No. 8 seed Richard Gasquet of France 7-6(5), 6-1.

Feliciano Lopez beat Mikhail Kukushkin 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 while Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain edged out Jarkko Nieminen 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(6).

Bautista Agut will next face Ernests Gulbis in the fourth round.