Federer dealt well with cooler, windier conditions to close out Sock in one hour and nine minutes.
"I played a very clean match," Federer said afterward. "I think I served great. I was also actually returning very well. That gave me the opportunity to stay in the match."
In his 15 appearances in Indian Wells, the Swiss has a tournament-high four titles to his name. He’ll need to defeat Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals to set a potential semi-final clash with rival Rafael Nadal.
"We have played on many occasions over many years," said Federer, who owns a 12-6 FedEx ATP Head2Head record over Berdych. "I don't know when we played the very first time, but I have seen his game evolve, seen how he established himself in the Top 10.
"I think he does very well, and probably also with a new team now he feels eager to try out new things and maybe gives him extra energy. So I think it's going to be an interesting matchup for him having a new team in the back."
Earlier on Wednesday, Berdych bested countryman Lukas Rosol 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in a tense battle on Stadium 2.
The World No. 9, who has not lost to a fellow Czech since falling to Robin Vik in Dubai nine years ago, wrapped up the match against the World No. 30 in just under two hours.
After losing his 2014 Indian Wells opener (l. to Bautista Agut), Berdych has come back strong this year, scoring straight-sets victories over Sergiy Stakhovsky and Steve Johnson before his win on Wednesday. His best result at this event came in 2013, when he fell to Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals.
atpworldtour.com
This match will definitely be the first real test for Roger. Hope he can pass with flying colours. He'll certainly have to raise his game up a few notches though.
This match will definitely be the first real test for Roger. Hope he can pass with flying colours. He'll certainly have to raise his game up a few notches though.
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