By Steve Keating
MIAMI Tue Mar 25, 2014 11:53pm EDT
<span id="articleText"><span id="midArticle_start"/> MIAMI (Reuters) - Unruffled by a bomb scare that locked down the Sony Open late on Tuesday, world number one Rafa Nadal brushed past Italy's Fabio Fognini 6-2 6-2 to join Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray in the last eight.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>Officials announced a suspicious package had been left near the main entrance to the sprawling tennis facility which was quickly locked down, keeping thousands of spectators from entering or leaving while Miami Dade police investigated.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>The all clear was given just before Nadal stepped onto the Crandon Park center court to face Fognini in the final match of the night.
<span id="midArticle_3"/>The Spaniard showed no signs of being alarmed by the bomb scare as he completed the win in 62 minutes.
<span id="midArticle_4"/>Nadal's great rival Federer was also in cruise control, needing just 49 minutes to dismiss ninth seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-1 6-2.
<span id="midArticle_5"/>"Look, things went well out on the court today," said the Swiss 17-times grand slam winner. "You just take what you get and you run with it.
<span id="midArticle_6"/>"I think I played well. I served well. I made my returns I had to and stayed aggressive, so I didn't let him just make errors.
<span id="midArticle_7"/>"I forced him to do stuff. It was a good match for me."
<span id="midArticle_8"/>Defending champion Murray, playing his first event since splitting with coach Ivan Lendl last week, has looked increasingly comfortable and confident on his own.
<span id="midArticle_9"/>He disposed of 11th-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-1 without facing a single break point.
<span id="midArticle_10"/>Djokovic, a three-time winner on the Miami hardcourts, had only two break points the entire match but that was all the second seeded Serb needed, converting both chances on his way to a 6-3 7-5 win over Spaniard Tommy Robredo.
<span id="midArticle_11"/>Not everything at Crandon Park tennis center went according to script, however, as Japan's Kei Nishikori and Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov pulled off a pair of fourth-round upsets.
<span id="midArticle_12"/>Dolgopolov battled to a 6-4 3-6 6-1 win over Swiss third seed and Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka, while Nishikori shocked fourth seeded Spaniard David Ferrer 7-6(7) 2-6 7-6(9).
<span id="midArticle_13"/>GLOOMY START
<span id="midArticle_14"/>In other fourth-round action, big-hitting Canadian Milos Raonic blasted German lucky loser Benjamin Becker 6-3 6-4, while another big-hitter, towering American John Isner, was beaten 6-3 7-5 by Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych.
<span id="midArticle_15"/>While the day got off to a gloomy start with early morning showers delaying play by 30 minutes, tennis fans were treated to a lineup of sparkling action with nine of the world's top 10 men battling for spots in the quarters.
<span id="midArticle_0"/>Djokovic, riding the momentum from his Masters Series win in Indian Wells nine days ago, was first through to the last eight and was soon followed by Murray, setting up rematch of last year's Wimbledon final won by the Briton.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>It was just the second match of the tournament for Djokovic, who received an opening-round bye and advanced to the last 16 on a walkover when Florian Mayer withdrew with a groin injury.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>"Very solid win," said Djokovic. "I just was telling myself to stay mentally tough out there and composed and not get carried away by few points.
<span id="midArticle_3"/>"I have done well. I have served well. I made him play an extra shot in important moments and that's why I'm satisfied with the overall match today."
<span id="midArticle_4"/>Murray, fighting for form after undergoing off-season back surgery and going solo after ending his successful partnership with Lendl, finally seemed to put some of the distractions behind him, although he requested pain relief tablets for his back during the first set.
<span id="midArticle_5"/>"We played each other a lot obviously," said Murray looking ahead to Wednesday's quarter-final. "We have played each other here three times, I don't know, maybe four times.
<span id="midArticle_6"/>"You know, the conditions can change a lot here. Obviously it can be extremely windy or very hot and humid.
<span id="midArticle_7"/>"Ultimately whoever deals with those things better on the day and whoever plays better will win.
<span id="midArticle_8"/>"Whether I beat him the last time or he beat me the last three or four times, I don't think it matters too much."
<span id="midArticle_9"/>(Editing by Frank Pingue/Peter Rutherford)
<span id="midArticle_10"/>
MIAMI Tue Mar 25, 2014 11:53pm EDT
<span id="articleText"><span id="midArticle_start"/> MIAMI (Reuters) - Unruffled by a bomb scare that locked down the Sony Open late on Tuesday, world number one Rafa Nadal brushed past Italy's Fabio Fognini 6-2 6-2 to join Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray in the last eight.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>Officials announced a suspicious package had been left near the main entrance to the sprawling tennis facility which was quickly locked down, keeping thousands of spectators from entering or leaving while Miami Dade police investigated.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>The all clear was given just before Nadal stepped onto the Crandon Park center court to face Fognini in the final match of the night.
<span id="midArticle_3"/>The Spaniard showed no signs of being alarmed by the bomb scare as he completed the win in 62 minutes.
<span id="midArticle_4"/>Nadal's great rival Federer was also in cruise control, needing just 49 minutes to dismiss ninth seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-1 6-2.
<span id="midArticle_5"/>"Look, things went well out on the court today," said the Swiss 17-times grand slam winner. "You just take what you get and you run with it.
<span id="midArticle_6"/>"I think I played well. I served well. I made my returns I had to and stayed aggressive, so I didn't let him just make errors.
<span id="midArticle_7"/>"I forced him to do stuff. It was a good match for me."
<span id="midArticle_8"/>Defending champion Murray, playing his first event since splitting with coach Ivan Lendl last week, has looked increasingly comfortable and confident on his own.
<span id="midArticle_9"/>He disposed of 11th-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-1 without facing a single break point.
<span id="midArticle_10"/>Djokovic, a three-time winner on the Miami hardcourts, had only two break points the entire match but that was all the second seeded Serb needed, converting both chances on his way to a 6-3 7-5 win over Spaniard Tommy Robredo.
<span id="midArticle_11"/>Not everything at Crandon Park tennis center went according to script, however, as Japan's Kei Nishikori and Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov pulled off a pair of fourth-round upsets.
<span id="midArticle_12"/>Dolgopolov battled to a 6-4 3-6 6-1 win over Swiss third seed and Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka, while Nishikori shocked fourth seeded Spaniard David Ferrer 7-6(7) 2-6 7-6(9).
<span id="midArticle_13"/>GLOOMY START
<span id="midArticle_14"/>In other fourth-round action, big-hitting Canadian Milos Raonic blasted German lucky loser Benjamin Becker 6-3 6-4, while another big-hitter, towering American John Isner, was beaten 6-3 7-5 by Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych.
<span id="midArticle_15"/>While the day got off to a gloomy start with early morning showers delaying play by 30 minutes, tennis fans were treated to a lineup of sparkling action with nine of the world's top 10 men battling for spots in the quarters.
<span id="midArticle_0"/>Djokovic, riding the momentum from his Masters Series win in Indian Wells nine days ago, was first through to the last eight and was soon followed by Murray, setting up rematch of last year's Wimbledon final won by the Briton.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>It was just the second match of the tournament for Djokovic, who received an opening-round bye and advanced to the last 16 on a walkover when Florian Mayer withdrew with a groin injury.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>"Very solid win," said Djokovic. "I just was telling myself to stay mentally tough out there and composed and not get carried away by few points.
<span id="midArticle_3"/>"I have done well. I have served well. I made him play an extra shot in important moments and that's why I'm satisfied with the overall match today."
<span id="midArticle_4"/>Murray, fighting for form after undergoing off-season back surgery and going solo after ending his successful partnership with Lendl, finally seemed to put some of the distractions behind him, although he requested pain relief tablets for his back during the first set.
<span id="midArticle_5"/>"We played each other a lot obviously," said Murray looking ahead to Wednesday's quarter-final. "We have played each other here three times, I don't know, maybe four times.
<span id="midArticle_6"/>"You know, the conditions can change a lot here. Obviously it can be extremely windy or very hot and humid.
<span id="midArticle_7"/>"Ultimately whoever deals with those things better on the day and whoever plays better will win.
<span id="midArticle_8"/>"Whether I beat him the last time or he beat me the last three or four times, I don't think it matters too much."
<span id="midArticle_9"/>(Editing by Frank Pingue/Peter Rutherford)
<span id="midArticle_10"/>
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