The Spaniard sensationally failed to win a game in the first set as Kohlschreiber breezed through 6-0 in just 21 minutes at the Crandon Park Tennis Center.

It was the first time Nadal had failed to win a game in the first set of an ATP Tour match since 2008, but the tournament's fifth seed fought back to level the match as he took the second 6-2.

Nadal, who was beaten in the final of January's Australian Open by Roger Federer, then secured his place in the next round by taking the third set 6-3.

It was the 822nd win of the 30-year-old's career and he will now play France's Nicolas Mahut for a place in the quarter-finals, who beat Guido Pella of Argentina 6-4, 6-3.

Japan's Kei Nishikori, the runner-up at this tournament last year, overcame Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in a three set affair.

The tournament's fifth seed came through a tough encounter 7-6, 6-7, 6-1.

Elsewhere in the men's draw, Canada's Milos Raonic was forced to withdraw from the tournament after suffering a hamstring injury.

As a result Jared Donaldson, a qualifier from the United States, was handed a walkover.

In the women's singles competition, Britain's Johanna Konta eased past Pauline Parmentier of France to reach the fourth round.

Parmentier arrived in Miami full of confidence after reaching the third round of Indian Wells, where she was eventually beaten by world number one Angelique Kerber of Germany.

Konta, however, proved too strong for the Frenchwoman as she claimed a 6-4, 6-0 victory.

Kerber also enjoyed a relatively comfortable match to earn her place in the next round.

The German saw off American Shelby Rogers 6-4, 7-5.

Russian seventh-seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, a beaten finalist at Indian Wells earlier this month, overcame Taylor Townsend of the US 6-4, 6-2.

Romania's Simona Halep eased past Anett Kontaveit of Estonia 6-3, 6-0, while American Venus Williams defeated Patricia Maria Țig of Romania 6-3 6-0.