AFP, United States :
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic took another step towards defending his Indian Wells title with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) win over American John Isner on Wednesday.
Djokovic has struggled in the past with the 6-foot-10 (2.08m) Isner’s bombing serve on the hardcourts of the California desert.
But the reigning Australian Open champ got the best of his opponent in the key tiebreaker.
“John has one of the best serves in the game,” Djokovic said. “It was difficult to hang in there mentally.
“He had chances in the second set but I managed to get through in straight sets.”
Djokovic booked a quarter-final clash with 35th-ranked Bernard Tomic of Australia.
Tomic eliminated fellow Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
In 2012, Isner upset Djokovic 7-6 (9/7), 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) in the semis, a defeat Djokovic avenged last year by beating Isner 7-5, 6-7 (2/7), 6-1 to reach the final.
Djokovic now has a 6-2 advantage in career meetings, with nine of the sets going into tiebreakers. Isner has won six of those, so Djokovic felt fortunate to squeak through this time.
“With his size and his serve he can beat anyone so I am very pleased with the victory which for me is very big,” Djokovic said.
