Miami: Top seed Daniil Medvedev moved a step closer to reclaiming the world number one ranking as he beat Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-3 6-4 on Monday to reach the last 16 at the Miami Open while Naomi Osaka cruised into the quarter-finals of the women's draw.
Medvedev, who can replace Novak Djokovic on top of the world rankings if he reaches the Miami semifinals, fired down 14 aces, won 79 per cent of his first-serve points and broke Martinez three times to secure victory in 84 minutes.
Up next for the Russian, who lost his world number one ranking after a surprise third-round loss at Indian Wells two weeks ago, will be American Jenson Brooksby, who earned a 6-3 5-7 6-4 win against Spanish 15th seed Roberto Bautista Agut.
Spanish 14th seed Carlos Alcaraz will meet Stefanos Tsitsipas after both enjoyed straight-set wins over Marin Cilic and Alex de Minaur respectively.
The 18-year-old Alcaraz beat Tsitsipas in their only previous meeting, a five-set thriller at last year's U.S. Open.
Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz dispatched fellow American Tommy Paul 7-6(2) 6-4 and will meet Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, a 7-6(4) 6-3 winner over Sebastian Korda.
Japan's Osaka reached the quarterfinals for a second consecutive year with a 6-3, 6-4 win over American Alison Riske during which she won 70 per cent of her first-serve points and recovered after falling behind 2-0 in the second set.
Standing between four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka and a first Miami semifinal spot will be ninth-seeded Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins, who beat Tunisian eighth seed Ons Jabeur 6-2, 6-4.
Poland's new world number one Iga Swiatek eased past 14th seed Coco Gauff 6-3 6-1 and will next face Petra Kvitova after the Czech defeated Veronika Kudermatova 7-6(5) 6-4 to reach the quarters.
Spanish fifth seed Paula Badosa beat 16-year-old wildcard Linda Fruhvirtova 6-2 6-3 and will next meet Jessica Pegula, who reached the Miami quarter-finals for the first time after Anhelina Kalinina retired while trailing 6-0.
Badosa, who won the Sydney title this year and reached the semis at Indian Wells, told reporters it had been a tough day.
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