Andy Murray has said that it is "unfortunate" that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are both absent from the Miami Masters.

The Spaniard pulled out of the tournament as he continues his comeback from a knee injury, while Federer announced that he would skip the tournament months ago.

The world number three told reporters: "For tennis it's way better if all of the top players are here. I think we have been very lucky the last few years especially that, you know, a lot of the top players have fulfilled their commitments to all of the big events.

"So it's going to happen from time to time, and it's unfortunate for this event that it happened here.

"When you know they aren't going to be here, then it obviously changes things a little bit. Changes where your position in the draw is going to be."

Murray, who is the second seed in the tournament, faces Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round.