Nicolas Almagro prevailed in an all-Spanish contest against Fernando Verdasco to progress to the quarter-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open.
The world number 12 set up a last-eight meeting with Mardy Fish with a 6-3 6-4 win over his Davis Cup teammate.
The first set went with serve until the sixth game, when Almagro took the second of two break points to move 4-2 ahead.
He then served out at 5-3 to claim the set before beginning the second set positively, with another break of Verdasco's serve in the third game.
From then on, Almagro appeared comfortable and was only given one scare when Verdasco threatened to break back.
However the 26-year-old produced an ace at a crucial time to hold serve and went on to secure the contest by claiming the second set 6-4.
Almagro will now face Fish in the quarter-finals after the American beat Kevin Anderson 6-4 6-3 earlier today.
Joe Fish
