• Sony Ericsson Open

Nadal battles through in Miami

Rafael Nadal is on a collision course with Roger Federer in the final © Getty Images

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Sunday gallery

Rafael Nadal overcame a spirited display from David Nalbandian to win 6-7(8) 6-2 6-2 and move into the fourth round at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

Nalbandian, who was handed a wildcard for both Indian Wells and Miami Masters events following his comeback from hip surgery last year, is ranked outside the top 150, but is a dangerous opponent having formerly been ranked as high as third in the world.

Nadal, who has never won the Masters event in Miami, took an early lead, but a lapse in concentration allowed the Argentine back into the first set, when Nadal double-faulted on break point. The scores went with serve and Nadal saved two set points to force the set to a tie-breaker, which Nalbaldian won 10-8 after an epic rally.

Nadal is on course to move back up to No. 3 in the world rankings following Andy Murray's shock defeat to Mardy Fish on Saturday, and he showed the mental toughness that Murray lacked, and clawed himself back into the match.

Despite Nalbandian's best efforts, Nadal secured a crucial break of serve in the second set to go 4-2 up, and it proved to be the turning point in the match. From then on it was plain sailing as he broke the former world No. 3 on a further three occasions.

Nadal said: "I am very happy how I am doing in this American hard court season. Every match right now I want to be really important for me, and every victory gives me confidence."

Nadal will now meet fellow Spaniard David Ferrer for a place in the quarter-finals after the No. 15 seed enjoyed a 7-6(5) 6-3 victory over Croatia's Ivo Karlovic.

Andy Roddick didn't give the home fans much time to enjoy his tennis, dispatching Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-2 6-1 in under an hour. While Stakhovsky did manage to create three break points on the Roddick serve in the second set, he could take none. Roddick on the other hand created four opportunities and took all of them - two in each set.

Roddick, who only served three aces, said afterwards he felt like he'd been flawless if not spectacular.

"I felt good. It's rare that you kind of walk off thinking everything kind of went the way that you wanted it to," Roddick said. "There's definitely that feeling when you play a whole lot of matches in a row where your kind of muscle memory takes over a little bit."

Eighth-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came through the late match unscathed, taking out Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2 7-5. Tsonga will meet another Spaniard, Juan Carlos Ferrero, in the fourth round after the 30-year-old beat American John Isner 6-2 3-6 6-3.

Nicolas Almagro joined his compatriots in the fourth round after a 6-2 6-7(9) 6-3 victory over Jeremy Chardy. Almagro will meet Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci, who overcame Novak Djokovic's conqueror Oliver Rochus 6-3 6-4.

Unseeded German Benjamin Becker continued his charge with a come-from-behind 1-6 6-4 7-6 win over Tommy Robredo, who was unable to become the fifth Spanish winner on the day.

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