Top seed Novak Djokovic is through to the Sony Ericsson Open quarter-finals after a 7-5 6-3 win over a frustrated Richard Gasquet.
Gasquet had won only one of his six previous meetings with Djokovic, but the Frenchman looked to be up to the challenge early on.
He was connecting with his trademark backhand, making the world number one do all the running and claimed the first break of serve in the fourth game.
The resilient Serb swiftly restored parity, stepping inside the baseline and dispatching a blistering backhand winner.
Djokovic was not playing at his best and Gasquet had looked the more likely to claim next, decisive, break.
However, after failing to convert three break point attempts, the Frechman handed the set to his opponent with two long forehand errors.
After coming so close but losing the first set, Gasquet's composure eluded him and Djokovic cruised through the second to set up a last-eight meeting with either Juan Martin Del Potro or David Ferrer.
