INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) – Rafa Nadal produced vintage form against an out-of-sorts Roger Federer, crushing the Swiss 6-4 6-2 in their heavily anticipated quarter-final at the BNP Paribas on Thursday.

The Spanish left-hander, competing in his first hardcourt event since his return from seven months on the sidelines with an ankle injury, outplayed his long-time rival with a sharp display at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

INDIAN WELLS, California, March 14 (Reuters) – Rafa Nadal produced vintage form against an out-of-sorts Roger Federer, crushing the Swiss 6-4 6-2 in their heavily anticipated quarter-final at the BNP Paribas on Thursday.

The Spanish left-hander, competing in his first hardcourt event since his return from seven months on the sidelines with an ankle injury, outplayed his long-time rival with a sharp display at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) – One of the most charismatic players in the game for nearly a decade, Rafa Nadal has commanded much more attention than usual at the BNP Paribas Open, his first hardcourt tournament in almost a year.

Though the Spaniard has made a highly successful comeback on clay in recent weeks, the hard courts of Indian Wells were always going to provide his toughest test on a surface where his all-action, fist-pumping style has been most vulnerable.

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) – Tomas Berdych became the first man to reach this year’s BNP Paribas semi-finals with a clinical 6-4 6-4 victory over big-serving South African Kevin Anderson on Thursday.

Berdych, who has not dropped a set in his first four matches at the elite ATP Masters 1000 event, broke Anderson in the final game of both sets to seal the win in 90 minutes on a sizzling hot day at Indian Wells.

INDIAN WELLS, California, March 14 (Reuters) – Tomas Berdych became the first man to reach this year’s BNP Paribas semi-finals with a clinical 6-4 6-4 victory over big-serving South African Kevin Anderson on Thursday.

Berdych, who has not dropped a set in his first four matches at the elite ATP Masters 1000 event, broke Anderson in the final game of both sets to seal the win in 90 minutes on a sizzling hot day at Indian Wells.

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) – No one knows better than Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro how difficult it is to win a grand slam title in the era of the “Big Four” of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray.

Between them, that elite quartet has scooped up 31 of the last 32 grand slam singles crowns, with Del Potro’s breakthrough victory at the 2009 U.S. Open the sole exception.

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) – In a bizarre coincidence, top seed Victoria Azarenka and seventh-seeded Australian Samantha Stosur withdrew from their quarter-final matches at the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday due to leg injuries.

Australian Open champion Azarenka of Belarus pulled out with an inflamed right ankle after Stosur had exited earlier in the day with a calf injury, handing walkovers for fourth seed Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki into the semi-finals.

INDIAN WELLS, California, March 14 (Reuters) – No one knows better than Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro how difficult it is to win a grand slam title in the era of the “Big Four” of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray.

Between them, that elite quartet has scooped up 31 of the last 32 grand slam singles crowns, with Del Potro’s breakthrough victory at the 2009 U.S. Open the sole exception.

INDIAN WELLS, California, March 14 (Reuters) – Top seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and seventh-seeded Australian Samantha Stosur both withdrew from their quarter-final matches at the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday because of leg injuries.

Australian Open champion Azarenka pulled out with a right ankle injury after Stosur had exited with a calf injury, handing walkovers for Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki into the semi-finals.

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) – One of the most charismatic players in the game for nearly a decade, Rafa Nadal has commanded much more attention than usual at the BNP Paribas Open, his first hardcourt tournament in almost a year.

Though the Spaniard has made a highly successful comeback on clay in recent weeks, the hard courts of Indian Wells were always going to provide his toughest test on a surface where his all-action, fist-pumping style has been most vulnerable.