TENNIS in DEPTH.

Novak Djokovic has targeted a “revenge” victory after setting up a quarter-final against Kevin Anderson at the Sony Ericsson Open. It was at the same Miami tournament three years ago that Anderson produced a shock three-set win over Djokovic, in their only previous meeting. And after Djokovic posted a 6-3 6-2 win over his close friend and Davis Cup team-mate Viktor Troicki, the Serbian – still unbeaten in 2011 – was reminded of that result. ”It’s not a nice memory, definitely,” second seed Djokovic said. ”But I will have an opportunity to get my revenge on the same court where I lost in 2008. World number 40 Anderson knocked out another player with a renowned serve, American 30th seed John Isner, 6-3 7-6 (7/4) to reach the last eight.

The prospect of Djokovic meeting Rafael Nadal in the final on Sunday moved a step closer as Nadal brushed aside Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1 6-2. Dolgopolov had completed a three-set third-round win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga earlier in the day – a match which began on Monday – and had little left for his match with Nadal. Nadal will face Tomas Berdych, the man he beat in last year’s Wimbledon final, in the quarter-finals. ”It’s always a difficult match,” Nadal said. “We know each other. We have played a lot of times, and I know I will have chances against him if I play my best tennis.”

Roger Federer reached the quarter-finals with a brisk 6-3 6-1 win against Belgium’s Olivier Rochus. The world number three had predicted an entertaining match against his long-time friend but it proved a one-sided late-night contest as Federer won in 53 minutes to set up a last-eight clash with France’s Gilles Simon. Simon has beaten Federer in two of their three career meetings but lost to the Swiss in five sets at this year’s Australian Open, their most recent encounter. He secured his quarter-final berth with a 4-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-2 win against Serbian Janko Tipsarevic.

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