David Nalbandian makes it to BNP Paribas Open 3rd round

PanARMENIAN.Net - David Nalbandian defeats Marin Cilic in two tight sets on Sunday, March 11 in Indian Wells. Nalbandian is through to the third round along with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who got a retirement from Michael Llodra.

David Nalbandian beat Marin Cilic 7-6(3), 7-6(4) in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday. Nalbandian won 75 percent of his first-serve points and set up a clash against Janko Tipsarevic after two hours and seven minutes.

The 30-year-old Argentine had a terrible time maintaining leads in this one even though he eventually got the job done.

Nalbandian failed to serve out the first set at 5-3 and was soon forced to a tiebreaker. Cilic stayed on level terms until 3-3 only to see his opponent string together four consecutive points.

More of the same continued in the second, with Nalbandian twice giving back breaks. He even held a match point on his own serve at 6-5 but did not serve it out. Cilic broke and used the momentum to take a 3-1 lead in the 'breaker. The 6'6'' Croat, however, again lost four points in a row to fall behind 5-3. Nalbandian built the advantage to 6-4 and finally capitalized on his second match point.

Next up for the world No. 74 is 10th-seeded Janko Tipsarevic, a 6-4, 6-2 winner overGilles Muller, tennistalk.com reported.