Raonic outlasts Portugal's Joao Sousa to advance to fourth round at Indian Wells

Rudi Schuller

Raonic outlasts Portugal's Joao Sousa to advance to fourth round at Indian Wells image

Milos Raonic is off to the round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open after defeating Joao Sousa on Tuesday.

The top-ranked Canadian required three sets to claim victory over Sousa, with Raonic prevailing 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 in the round of 32 at Indian Wells, Calif.

Raonic served 12 aces and won 93 percent of his first-serve points in Tuesday's win, as the 27-year-old played to his strengths in overcoming a difficult opponent. That makes two straight victories for Raonic after he won in straight sets over fellow Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassme on Sunday.

Ranked 38th in the world, Raonic is trying to regain his form after injuries forced him to miss much of the 2017 schedule. The former World No. 3 will take on Marcos Baghdatis later this week.

Rudi Schuller