Svetlana Kuznetsova earned a surprise win over Serena Williams ©Getty Images

World number one Serena Williams saw her pursuit of a fourth straight Miami Open title come to an end, after the American was beaten in the fourth round at Tennis Center Park at Crandon Park by Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Williams has triumphed at the tournament eight times in her career and looked on course for another quarter-final when she claimed the opening set by winning a tie-break.

Kuznetsova, the 15th seed, surprisingly took control of the match, however, winning the second set 6-1, before completing a comeback win by triumphing 6-2 in the third.

Kuznetsova will now face fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova in the last eight after the 30th seed secured a 6-1, 6-4 win over Ukraine's Elina Svitolina.

Australian Open winner Angelique Kerber was forced to come through another three set match, the German battling past Hungary’s Tímea Babos 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

Home favourite Madison Keys will now take on Kerber after the American triumphed 6-3, 6-1 against Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu.

Begu’s compatriot Simona Halep defeated Britain’s Heather Watson 6-3, 6-4 to set up a quarter-final tie against Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky, who came through 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in her match with Poland’s Agnieszka Radwańska.

Having triumphed at Indian Wells, Victoria Azarenka continued her fine form with the Belarus player beating Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza 7-6, 7-6.

She will now face the challenge of Johanna Konta, who became the first British woman to reach the Miami Open quarter-finals after defeating Romania’s Monica Niculescu 6-2, 6-2.

Andy Murray, left, was beaten by Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov ©Getty Images
Andy Murray, left, was beaten by Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov ©Getty Images

British hopes came to an end in the men’s competition with world number two Andy Murray seeing a first set lead slip against Grigor Dimitrov, the Bulgarian eventually triumphing 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the fourth round.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios ended the challenge of American qualifier Tim Smyczek 6-4, 6-4.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori, meanwhile, sealed a 6-2, 6-2 win over Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Having finished as the runner-up at Indian Wells, Milos Raonic is looking to go one stage further in Miami.

The Canadian progressed to the fourth round by defeating America’s Jack Sock 7-6, 6-4.

France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fell in the third round, the ninth seed falling to a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 defeat to Spain’s Roberto Bautista.