Indian Wells: David Goffin stans Wawrinka

Spanish star Rafael Nadal and world no. 1 Novak Djokovic remained on course for a mouth-watering Indian Wells semi-final while Swiss Stan Wawrinka exited in a match he described as a no-brainer.

World number five Nadal survived a scare from Alexander Zverev, rallying to beat the German teenager 6-7 (8/10), 6-0, 7-5 and reach the quarter-finals.

Two-time defending champion Djokovic cruised into the quarters by beating Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-3 but French Open champion Stan Wawrinka bit the dust in joint ATP and WTA Tour tournament.

Nadal, who saved a match point in the third set, said he had to adjust quickly to 18-year-old Zverev’s style, especially the German’s second serve, which he consistently blasts at speeds of 120 mph.

Indeed, Zverev had the 14-time Grand Slam champion Nadal on the ropes for much of Wednesday’s two and a half hour contest and following the match the Spaniard predicted great things for the teen.

The contest on the main stadium court in front of a crowd of about 10,000 turned on match point in the ninth game with Zverev serving and leading 5-3 in games.

Nadal moves on to face Kei Nishikori of Japan, who rallied to beat American John Isner 1-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5) while Wawrinka was sent crashing out of Indian Wells in thefourth round by David Goffin.

“It was a match without a brain,” said Wawrinka, who lost 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (5/7) to 15th seed Goffin.

There were 13 total service breaks in the two hour, 25 minute marathon match.

Goffin’s victory snaps a 14-match losing streak for the Belgian against top-10 opponents. His last win over a top-10 player was against Milos Raonic in 2014 at Basel.

Hard-serving Canadian Raonic toppled sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-6 (9/7) to reach the quarter-finals.

Battle of top two in women’s semis Serena Williams dethroned defending champion Simona Halep in straight sets Wednesday to set up an Indian Wells semifinal showdown between the world no.1 and 2.

Williams reached just her second semi in 15 years by beating Halep 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday.

Williams advances to face Agnieszka Radwanska, who has never beaten Williams in nine career matches.

Radwanska defeated Petra Kvitova 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) in their quarter-final, but the victory had an added bonus as she vaulted past Angelique Kerber into the world number two spot.

It was just the fourth time Radwanska has beaten Kvitova in 10 career meetings.