Roddick advances to the fourth round

Associated Press

INDIAN WELLS, CALIF.

Andy Roddick defeated Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday to reach the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open along with Andy Murray, while second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the women’s quarterfinals.

Roddick, a semifinalist here last year, improved his record to 17-3 this season, all on hardcourts. He had an easier time with de Bakker than their first meeting, a three-set win at the Australian Open in January.

The seventh-seeded American will next play No. 22 Jurgen Melzer, who advanced when Simon Greul withdrew because of illness.

No. 4 Murray served seven aces and was broken just once in defeating American Michael Russell 6-3, 7-5. At 31, Russell was the oldest player remaining in the men’s field.

In fourth-round women’s play, No. 4 Elena Dementieva beat No. 19 Aravane Rezai of France 6-3 6-3 and No. 8 Samantha Stosur defeated defending champion Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 7-5.

Top-ranked Roger Federer was to play Marcos Baghdatis in a night match.

Wozniacki advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 victory over 16th-seeded Nadia Petrova, whose career record against top-five players dropped to 11-42 with the loss.

The Dane will play Jie Zheng of China, who defeated Alicia Molik, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (1).

No. 5 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland beat Marion Bartoli, 6-3, 6-2, to reach the quarters for the third consecutive year. Radwanska and Stosur are the only remaining female players who have yet to drop a set.

Other men’s winners included No. 8 Robin Soderling, No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tommy Robredo.