Aussie's remarkable career first in giant-killing Miami Open run

Jordan Thompson’s giant-killing run at the ATP Tour’s Miami Open has continued with a third-round win over Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov.

The world No.77 beat the 24th seed 7-5 7-5 to advance to the last 16, having already dispatched 10th seed Karen Khachanov in the previous round.

Thompson and Dimitrov, who was playing in only his second tournament of the season because of a right shoulder problem, traded breaks in both sets.

But the Sydney native won the important points when they mattered most.

He broke Dimitrov on the 12th game of both sets to seal his best performance at a Masters 1000 event.

The successive wins over Khachanov and Dimitrov mark the first time Thompson has beaten two seeds at any ATP tournament.

The 24-year-old, who has won seven second-tier Challenger titles, is set to rise at least 10 places in the rankings.

Thompson will play big-serving Kevin Anderson for a spot in the quarter-finals after the South African sixth seed conquered Portugal’s Joao Sousa 6-4 7-6 (8-6).

Roger Federer was forced to battle early before he overcame Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic 7-5 6-3 to reach the fourth round.

Serb Krajinovic broke Federer to jump into an early 2-1 lead in the first set and it looked like an upset could be in the works against the 20-time grand slam champion.

But momentum swung in the fourth-seeded Federer’s direction when he blasted a cross-court forehand winner to break Krajinovic’s serve to take the closely fought first set.

The 37-year-old Swiss coasted after that thanks to an overpowering serve and finished the match with 14 aces.

Next up for three-time Miami champion Federer is a clash with either American qualifier Reilly Opelka or Russian Daniil Medvedev.

with AAP