Bernard Tomic plans to appeal any possible fine levelled against him for coaching in his second-round loss at the Miami Masters.
The Australian teenager was cautioned in his 6-4 6-4 loss to Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer on Saturday, but claimed he was merely asking his coach-father John to have some racquets restrung.
A distracted Tomic then asked his father to move so he wasn’t warned again before explaining himself to the chair umpire.
Ferrer, who reached the 2005 and 2006 semi-finals, converted four of 10 break-point chances to end Australian interest in the men’s draw at the so-called “fifth major” following the earlier exits of Matt Ebden and wildcard Marinko Matosevic.
Roger Federer, meanwhile, set up a 24th career meeting against old rival Andy Roddick while crowd favourite Kim Clijsters crashed out of the women’s event.
Third-seeded Federer, who has a 21-2 record against the 34th-ranked Roddick, recorded his 23rd win of 2012 by beating 19-year-old American wildcard Ryan Harrison 6-2 7-6 (7-3).
“I felt like I had to win the match like three times at the end, so I was relieved to come through,” Federer said. “And beating an American in America is always a big deal because this is here where they usually play their very best.”
The Swiss superstar is bidding to capture his third Indian Wells-Miami title double, having also won the back-to-back US hardcourt Masters events in 2005 and 2006.
Federer has now won 40 of his past 42 matches since the 2011 US Open semi-finals.
“I guess I’m more confident now. I have been playing really nice as of late,” Federer said.
Roddick, the 2004 and 2010 champion in Miami, dropped nine points on his serve and hit 10 aces to beat Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller 6-3 6-2.
The American, who is at his lowest ranking since July 2001, won in 74 minutes.
France’s Gael Monfils defeated Ukrainian qualifier Sergei Bubka – the boyfriend of women’s world No.1 Victoria Azarenka – 6-4 6-4 in 78 minutes.
Monfils next faces Argentine 21st seed Juan Monaco.
In the women’s event, former world No.1 Clijsters saved three match points but lost 6-4 7-6 (7-5) to Belgian compatriot Yanina Wickmayer, the 23rd seed, in the third round.
“She definitely started off much better and was more consistent throughout,” Clijsters said. “It was close. It’s a little bit frustrating knowing that I am playing not even 50 percent but it is still that close.
“On one hand I could have beaten her with the way that I was playing and feeling, but she played good.”
Clijsters, who was playing her first tournament since an Australian Open semi-final defeat by Azarenka, had skipped last week’s Indian Wells tournament to rest her injured ankle.
The 28-year-old won the Miami event in 2005 and 2010.
American 10th seed Serena Williams breezed into the fourth round with a 6-2 6-1 win over Italian Roberta Vinci.
Williams, who is playing her first tournament since a fourth-round exit at the Australian Open, will face either Australian sixth seed Samantha Stosur or South Africa’s Chanelle Scheepers for a place in the last eight.