TENNIS: The great run of the Aussie contingent has continued at Indian Wells, with Bernard Tomic surprising eighth seed David Ferrer to set up a fourth-round clash with compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Tomic, seeded 32nd, beat the Spanish veteran for the first time in four meetings, sealing a 7-5 6-4 victory in one hour and 38 minutes.

It is a career-best run for the 22-year-old at the ATP Masters event in the Californian desert.

Kokkinakis beat former world No.10 Juan Monaco in a third-set tiebreak in the third round.

It is the first time since Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt in 2001 that Australia has had more than one player progress to the fourth round at Indian Wells.

The victory continues Tomic’s stellar start to the 2015 season; as well as reaching the fourth round both here and at the Australian Open, he reached the semifinals at Delray Beach as well as quarterfinals in Brisbane, Sydney, Memphis and Acapulco.

He also won both his singles rubbers in Australia’s Davis Cup victory over the Czech Republic.

He is 18-6 on the year.

Despite facing 13 break points against Ferrer, he saved 11, and generally was superior on serve against the Spaniard, who succumbed to seven double faults.

Having followed Kokkinakis onto Stadium 3 on Monday, Tomic will play his younger compatriot for the second time this season, having won their second-round match in Brisbane in straight sets.

It's good signs for Australian tennis ahead of Davis Cup quarter-final against Kazakhstan in July in Darwin. 

TENNIS AUSTRALIA.