Favourites bomb out opposition
Scare fails to put Nadal off stride
UNRUFFLED by a bomb scare at the Sony Open late on Tuesday, world No 1 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.
Officials announced a suspicious package had been left near an entrance to the sprawling Miami facility which was locked down, keeping thousands from entering or leaving while police investigated.
The all-clear was given just before Nadal stepped onto the Crandon Park centre court to face Fognini.
The Spaniard showed no signs of being alarmed by the bomb scare as he completed the win in 62 minutes.
“Every day I have to try to find my rhythm, try to think about myself, what I have to do well, so I just try to be focused on what I really need to do to play well,” Nadal said.
“Then the opponent is free to do whatever. Tonight was not an easy match for him, for the conditions that I told you before.
“So it was a little bit strange, but in general, I think I was very focused and solid with my serve.” Nadal’s next opponent is Canadian Milos Raonic, who beat Benjamin Becker 6-3 6-4.
“He’s a very dangerous opponent,” added the Spaniard.
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.
The Swiss 17-times grand slam winner said: “I forced him to do stuff. It was a good match for me.”
Defending champion Murray, playing his first event since splitting with coach Ivan Lendl last week, has looked increasingly comfortable and confident on his own.
He disposed of 11th-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-1.
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.
“I just was telling myself to stay mentally tough out there and composed and not get carried away by few points,” Djokovic said.
Not everything went according to script, however, as Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov pulled off a pair of fourth-round upsets.
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).
In other fourth-round action, towering American John Isner, was beaten 6-3 7-5 by Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych.