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Top trio faces little resistance in Miami
Top seeds Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic all cruised into the quarterfinals of the Sony Ericsson Open with straight-set victories on Tuesday.
Top seeds Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic all cruised into the quarterfinals of the Sony Ericsson Open with straight-set victories on Tuesday.
After rain delays earlier in the day, Federer took to the court at 12.40 a.m. local time but made short work of Belgian Olivier Rochus, winning 6-3, 6-1 in just 52 minutes.
Federer, who faces Frenchman Gilles Simon next, will meet Nadal in the semifinals should they both progress.
Nadal had a similarly easy match, facing virtually no resistance from Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov in a 6-1 6-2 victory, winning 86 per cent of first service points without facing a single break point.
The Spanish world number one will meet Czech Tomas Berdych, a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 victory over German Florian Mayer, in the quarterfinals.
Djokovic remains unbeaten in 2011, chalking up 21 successive wins, and that record was never in danger against Serb Viktor Troicki in a straightforward 6-3, 6-2 victory.
The world No. 2 was
Comfortable throughout and will now face South African Kevin Anderson in the last eight - a player he lost to in this tournament three years ago.
Sharapova survives thriller
Russia's Maria Sharapova emerged from a compelling three-hour 28 minute battle with Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru which ended 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 in the women's singles event.
In another fourth round match, world number two Kim Clijsters staved off five match points before edging out Ana Ivanovic 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 to keep her title defence alive.
