Novak Djokovic survives scare from unseeded Alexandr Dolgopolov to reach Miami Open quarter-finals

The 6-7, 7-5, 6-0 triumph pits the world No 1 against David Ferrer in the last eight after the Spaniard saw off Gilles Simon 7-6, 6-0 in a little over an hour and a half.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts against Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine during a fourth round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 31 March 2015. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER
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Reigning champion Novak Djokovic dug deep to avoid a shock exit at the hands of Alexandr Dolgopolov before powering into the quarter-finals of the Miami Open.

The unseeded Dolgopolov - ranked 65th in the world, 64 places behind Djokovic - surprised the Serbian by winning a first-set tie-break and building a quick 4-2 lead in the second set.

But Djokovic steeled himself and rallied to force a decider, which he wrapped up without much resistance from his deflated Ukrainian opponent.

The 6-7, 7-5, 6-0 triumph pits the world No 1 against David Ferrer in the last eight after the Spaniard saw off Gilles Simon 7-6, 6-0 in a little over an hour and a half.

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Also through to the quarters are British number one Andy Murray and fourth seed Kei Nishikori.

The Scot racked up a 500th career win by edging out Kevin Anderson 6-4 3-6 6-3 to book a meeting with Austrian Dominic Thiem, a 7-6 (7/5) 4-6 7-5 victor against Adrian Mannarino.

Nishikori of Japan made light work of David Goffin and his 6-1 6-2 sees him progress to a match-up against big-serving American John Isner, who rallied to upset fifth seed Milos Raonic 6-7 (3/7) 7-6 (8/6) 7-6 (7/5) in a match which last two and three-quarter hours.

Czech challenger Tomas Berdych reached his sixth quarter-final of the season by beating Gael Monfils 6-3 3-2.

The Frenchman conceded the match by retirement after suffering a heavy fall on court, and Berdych will meet Juan Monaco following the unseeded Argentinian’s 6-3 6-3 conquest of Fernando Verdasco.

In the women’s competition, Carla Suarez Navarro lost the first set 6-0 but hit back to see off Venus Williams 0-6 6-1 7-5 and reach the semi-finals.

There she will face Germany’s Andrea Petkovic after the ninth seed beat Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-4 6-2.

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