Fernando Gonzalez had chosen not to go to Indian Wells so he could head to Chile to assist with relief efforts.  He returns to Miami, but had to face hard hitting Soderling.  Soderling took the first set, 6-0, but Gonzalez worked hard to take the second set in a tiebreak.  Gonzalez was testy, complaining that the line judges were not seeing the ball correctly.  Although Gonzo pushed it to a 2nd set, Soderling came back to win the third set, 6-2.

Gonzalez is teaming up with Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten to play Roddick and Jim Courier in a fundraiser to help out with victims of the Chile earthquake.  This exhibition will occur the night before the men’s final.  With Gonzo out already, he can focus his efforts to this event.

Rafael Nadal has a pretty good win-loss record against David Ferrer.  Players have learned how to play Rafa, which is to take your chances.  Rafa has a tendency to play somewhat passively, and if you don’t take advantage when you can, then when he sees a weak ball, he’ll be on the attack.  Unfortunately, Ferrer was making a few too many errors.  Rafa wins in a tight one, 7-6, 6-4, breaking late in the 2nd set.

Fellow Spaniard, Nicolas Almagro needed three sets to beat lefty Brazilian, Thomaz Bellucci.  Bellucci had some rowdy supporters who must have known some naughty Spanish.  Almagro wanted the guy tossed from the stands, but he was merely given a warning.  Almagro won 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3).

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga just demolished Juan Carlos Ferrero, 6-2, 6-2.  Ferrero had beaten Isner in the previous round.

Andy Roddick was down an early break in the first set against Benjamin Becker, but came back to take the first set in a tiebreak, and won the second set more handily: 7-6(4), 6-3.   Roddick continues to plug away winning matches that he is supposed to.

Mikhail Youzhny didn’t have to stay on court too long.  After leading, 6-1, 1-0, Mardy Fish retired due to injury.  Fish had upset Andy Murray in the 2nd round and won his 3rd round over Feliciano Lopez.

Fernando Verdasco is up a set over Marin Cilic and it is tight in the 2nd set.  Roger Federer is playing Tomas Berdych in the late evening match.