Federer and Nadal on collision course

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal remain on course to meet for the first time in a competitive fixture since their clash 12 months ago at the semi-final stage of the Indian Wells Masters.

Swiss legend Federer beat Croatia's Ivan Dodig 6-3 6-1 in the third round of the same Coachella Valley tournament and will now take on Davis Cup team-mate Stanislas Wawrinka on Wednesday. Nadal, who returned in February from a seven-month injury lay-off, also went through when Argentine opponent Leonardo Mayer withdrew because of a back injury and will face Latvia's Ernests Gulbis next. In a curious twist of fate, it means both players will meet for the first time since the last-four stage of the same California event last year if they both make it through to the quarter-finals. Federer, a four-time champion at Indian Wells, prevailed 6-3 6-4 on that occasion and was quick to play down concerns about a potential back injury after his Dodig win. He can be backed at 11/2 to win the Indian Wells Masters with bet365, with Nadal quoted 15/2. "I felt a little something in my back at the end," the 17-time Grand Slam champion said. "I'll just have to check it out. Hopefully I'll be fine."

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