Nadal, Wawrinka advance in straight sets

MIAMI, Mar 25 (AFP): Top seed Rafael Nadal and reigning Aussie Open champ Stanislas Wawrinka posted straight-set victories in the third round at the WTA and ATP Miami Masters hardcourt tournament on Monday.

French Open champ Nadal needed just 59 minutes to rout Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, 6-1, 6-0 while Wawrinka cruised into the fourth round with a 7-5, 6-4 dismantling of Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France at Crandon Park.

"I'm happy with the way I was fighting, the way I stayed positive in the game," said the 28-year-old Wawrinka. "Even if I was wasn't moving or playing so as well at the beginning, I stayed with him.

"I was fighting with myself to get control of the point."

Nadal, who finished runner-up in this event three times, will next face 14th-seeded Fabio Fognini, who battled back to beat Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Swiss Wawrinka will square off against Alexandr Dolgopolov after the 22nd-seeded Ukrainian rallied for a 3-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7/5) win over Dusan Lajovic.

Wawrinka already owns two titles this year.