Tennis: Kerber beats Vikhlyantseva in three sets to reach fourth round at Indian Wells

Eighth seed Angelique Kerber survived an early scare by coming back from a set down to beat qualifier Natalia Vikhlyantseva 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 and reach the fourth round at Indian Wells on Monday. The 22-year-old Russian was two games behind before taking four-consecutive games, then a third break over Kerber saw her take the first set in under 40 minutes. The German, a two-time semi-finalist at Indian Wells, had to respond to Vikhlyantseva's excellent start, and she did. Kerber shifted the momentum with two breaks in the second to take the set in 28 minutes. Vikhlyantseva saved four match points in the deciding set, but Kerber's determination saw her win the match after almost two hours on court. Next up for the German will be 20-year-old Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.