Maria Sharapova overcame 11 double faults Monday to beat Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 7-6 (3) and become the first quarterfinalist at the Sony Ericsson Open. Sharapova, seeded No. 2, played for more than two hours in 85-degree sunshine. She won despite committing 52 unforced errors and losing her serve four times. Sharapova is seeking her first Key Biscayne title after losing in the final three times. On the men's side, No. 8-seeded Mardy Fish assured he'll remain the top-ranked American by beating No. 28 Kevin Anderson in the third round, 6-4, 6-3. On Sunday, world No. 2 Rafael Nadal cruised through to the last 16 at the ATP/WTA Miami Masters tournament. Nadal continued his domination over Czech Radek Stepanek with a straight forward 6-2, 6-2 victory in a third round match on centre court. Nadal, who is chasing his first Miami title, has now beaten Stepanek in all six contests dating back to their first meeting in 2004. “I am just happy to be in the fourth round winning two matches with positive feeling and with comfortable results,” Nadal said. “I will just try to keep doing well and try to keep improving a little bit the level.” Nadal finished with three aces, won 74 percent of his first-serve points and saved both break point chances he faced in the 86 minute match. Nadal advances to face Japan's Kei Nishikori who breezed past Czech Lukas Rosol 6-4, 6-2 Sunday. The 24-year-old Scot Murray will tackle French 13th seed Gilles Simon for a place in the quarterfinals of a tournament he won in 2009. Highly-regarded Canadian 26th seed Raonic had already been forced to pull out of the doubles on Saturday where he and South African partner Kevin Anderson had managed just three games against Michael Llodra and Nenad Zimonjic. On the women's side, American wild card Venus Williams struggled to defeat Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) and top seed Victoria Azarenka powered past Heather Watson 6-0, 6-2 in third round matches Sunday. Williams advances to face former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic who beat 20th seeded Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 7-6 (7-2). “I just kept coming back,” Williams said. “I tried not to let anything discourage me today. I kept thinking about how I really need this match and I need these points.” Azarenka will square off against 16th seeded Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova for a spot in the quarter-finals. In other women's matches Sunday, French seventh seed Marion Bartoli defeated Simona Halep 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) and Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska crushed Silvia Soler-Espinosa, of Spain 6-1, 6-2. Wild card Garbine Muguruza Blanco eliminated No. 24 Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (6).
