Patchy play but Djokovic still sweeps aside Troicki

Novak Djokovic is playing some way below the standards he set last year but the world No 1 was still too good for his fellow Serb, Viktor Troicki, in the third round of the Miami Masters last night. Djokovic recorded his 11th victory in a row over the world No 27, winning 6-3, 6-4 to set up a meeting with Richard Gasquet in the last 16.

Although he made a successful defence of his Australian Open title, Djokovic has already lost twice this year, to Andy Murray and John Isner in the semi-finals in Dubai and Indian Wells respectively. His form was patchy against Troicki, but three breaks of serve took him to victory in an hour and 26 minutes. Gasquet beat Spain's Albert Ramos 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.

Roger Federer was playing Andy Roddick late last night, while Murray and Rafael Nadal will be aiming to reach the quarter-finals today. Murray faces France's Gilles Simon, while Nadal meets Japan's Kei Nishikori.

Serena Williams, aiming for a sixth title in Miami, moved into the quarter-finals and avenged her loss in last year's US Open final by beating Sam Stosur 7-5, 6-3. Her sister, Venus, having saved a match point to beat Aleksandra Wozniak on Sunday, was meeting Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round last night. Maria Sharapova secured her place in the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 7-6 win over her fellow Russian, Ekaterina Makarova, despite dropping serve four times.