MIAMI, March 27 (UPI) -- Top-ranked Novak Djokovic and second-seeded Rafael Nadal each advanced to the quarterfinals of the Sony Ericsson Open with Tuesday victories.
Djokovic, a two-time Miami winner and the event's defending champion pushed past 17th-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet 7-5, 6-3, improving to 17-2 this year.
Meanwhile, Nadal -- who lost to the Serbian star in last year's final -- made the quarterfinal round with a straight-set win over Japan's Kei Nishikori, 6-4, 6-4.
The former world No. 1 racked up four service breaks compared with only two for the Japanese.
Nadal, a 10-time major champion, has been the runner-up at Miami three times and is still seeking his first title at the event, as well as his first overall since last year's French Open.
Also Tuesday, No. 4 seed Andy Murray notched a 6-3, 6-4 win over 13th-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon. He will next meet Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic, who bested Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.
American Mardy Fish gained the quarters as well. The eighth seed recorded a 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3 victory over 12th-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain.
