Novak Djokovic advances, barely

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Second-seeded Novak Djokovic saved three match points on his own serve against Philipp Kohlschreiber and moved to the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden with a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (3) victory Monday afternoon.

In the 10th game of the final set, Djokovic trailed 0-40 on his serve. Then the Serbian cracked a forehand winner to save one match point, watched a Kohlschreiber backhand passing shot land wide, and then pressured Kohlschreiber through a 10-shot rally that ended when the German sent another passing shot wide. After he finally held serve for 5-5, Djokovic steadied himself and his serve. After Kohlschreiber held at 15 for a 6-5 lead, Djokovic held at love to force the tiebreaker, in which he won the first four points.

On the final point of the 2-hour 35-minute match, a big forehand winner, Djokovic let out a loud bellow.

Other early winners Monday included Argentina’s Juan Monaco, seeded 21st, who beat No. 11-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain,7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3, and the No. 8-seeded woman, Samantha Stosur of Australia, who was little tested in a 6-3, 6-0 win over Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Shahar Peer, seeded 17th, upset ninth-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-1. Peer, of Israel, was refused a visa in Dubai last year and thus couldn’t play a tournament there, and when she was allowed to play this year (she lost in the semifinals to Venus Williams) it was on outside courts with extra security. Monday, Peer was loudly cheered on the Stadium 3 court.

-- Diane Pucin