The two players traded service breaks in an evenly-matched first set with Soderling failing to convert two set points in the tie-break which the German 32nd seed took 7-6 (10-8).

There was not much between the two in the second set with Soderling dropping serve in the final game of the match to give Kohlschreiber the match 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 and take his head-to-head with the Swede to 4-1.

The 27 year-old German will now go on to face former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro who continued his impressive run so far after taking out Australian Open quarter-finalist and No. 20 seed Alexandr Dolgopolov 7-6(3), 6-3.

Soderling revealed in his press conference that he had injured his left foot in Davis Cup competition last week and had then been bed-ridden with fever upon arriving in Indian Wells. “I think I lost the match when I decided to go on court, because today I shouldn't have done that… Sitting here after the match, it feels like I couldn't give 100 per cent.”

Elsewhere, World number one Rafael Nadal of Spain defeated American Ryan Sweeting for the second time this year, 6-3, 6-1 in just 68 minutes. “I didn't play really impressive, but I played solid,” said Nadal, who has conceded just 11 points on serve through his first two matches. “I didn't have big mistakes. I think today the more positive thing is I finished much better than the beginning of the match.  

Nadal is chasing his third title here at Indian Wells after wins in 2007 and 2009 defeating Djokovic and Murray respectively.

In other matches, Spaniard Tommy Robredo convincingly dispatched Andy Murray's conqueror Donald Young for the loss of just 4 games, 6-0, 6-4.

American Sam Querrey upset World No. 9 Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-4 to reach the fourth round for the first time in Indian Wells.