SPORT Wozniacki into Miami Open semis, Federer books q-final place

Roger Federer survived a stern test from Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut to reach the Miami Open quarter-finals while top-seeded Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka was eliminated on his birthday. Federer clinched the 7-6, 7-6 victory on his third match point shortly after Wawrinka fell 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to 16th-seeded German teenager Alexander Zverev. But Federer’s class proved the difference in the tiebreaks as he improved to 6-0 lifetime against Agut and advanced to a quarter-final match against Czech 10th seed Tomas Berdych. Wawrinka, who turned 32 on Tuesday, lost to Federer in the Indian Wells final nine days ago and was denied a chance of setting up a possible rematch in Miami.

A day after saving three match points and beating John Isner, the 19-year-old Zverev dominated the final two sets against Wawrinka, breaking twice in the second and three times in the third to earn a quarterfinal encounter with Nick Kyrgios after the Australia overcame David Goffin of Belgium 7-6, 6-3.

All the top seeds had competitive matches on Tuesday, with Japanese second seed Kei Nishikori also taken to three sets before ousting Federico Delbonis of Argentina 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

Fifth seed Rafa Nadal won in straight sets, but also had to be near his best to beat Frenchman Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 7-6.

Next up for Nadal is American Jack Sock, while Nishikori meets Italian Fabio Fognini.

Also, former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki progressed to the semi-finals of the Miami Open with a straight sets win over Lucie Safarova.

The No 12 seed from Denmark was a 6-4, 6-3 winner against her Czech opponent.

Wozniacki, who had progressed on Monday when sixth seed Gabrine Muguruza retired through illness, had too much for doubles specialist Safarova and advanced after an hour and 50 minutes.