Federer Breezes Past Dodig, Berdych Advances

Roger Federer was clinical against Ivan Dodig today, but his biggest challenges are just around the corner.

By Chris Oddo

(March 11, 2013) -- Roger Federer faced his toughest challenge just three points into his third-round match with 28-year-old Croatian Ivan Dodig at the BNP Paribas Open on Monday.

Facing three break points at 0-40, Federer would dig his way out of the day's only hole, saving the final break point by hammering his first of five aces at 30-40.

Unlike the morning, which featured a 4.7-magnitude earthquake which Federer called "quite scary," (he was at home when it happened and reportedly ran outside) the rest of the afternoon would be a stroll in the garden for the 17-time Grand Slam champion.

He also got lots of help from Dodig en route to the 6-3, 6-1 victory, as the Croatian double-faulted on all three break points he faced in the second set.

Federer's crisp, clinical effort nudges his 2013 record to a respectable 12-3. But the four-time Indian Wells champion is still seeking his first title of the year, and things should get a lot more competitive than today's one hour and one minute promenade in the round of 16.

Federer will face either Stan Wawrinka or Lleyton Hewitt, and if he should pass that test, he could face Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals of a tournament for the first time in his career.

Add to that the fact that Federer acknowledged that he had to seek treatment for an ailing back after the match, and Federer has his work cut out for him.

Federer, who now owns 890 tour-level wins, is bidding to win his 22nd Masters 1000 title.

In other action, 6th-seeded Tomas Berdych defeated Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-1, while qualifier Ernests Gulbis kept his hot streak going with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 upset over 20th-seeded Andreas Seppi of Italy.

Berdych improved his record to 16-4 on the season, and set up a round of 16 contest with 10th-seeded Richard Gasquet.

Gasquet made short work of Polish sensation Jerzy Janowicz, 6-1, 6-4. The Frenchman is 17-3 on the year with two titles. He also owns a 4-2 record over Berdych, including victories in their last two meetings in Toronto and Rome.

Kevin Anderson of South Africa also continued his strong return from elbow surgery with a 6-3, 6-1 thrashing of Fin Jarkko Nieminen. The unseeded South African will face Gilles Simon in the round of 16. Simon outlasted compatriot Benoit Paire, 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.

(Photo Credit: AP)