Aryna Sabalenka eased past Naomi Osaka 6-2, 6-4 to reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals, while Alexander Zverev also progressed in the men's event. The world No 1 and four-time grand slam champion faced Osaka for the first time since 2018, when the Japanese won at the US Open en route to her maiden major title. Sabalenka's power proved decisive as she capitalised on Osaka's double faults to break for 2-1 in the first set and served out with an ace.
In the second set, Sabalenka again used her firepower to break for a 4-2 lead and closed out victory without dropping a set. 'I'm happy that I put so much pressure on her today, that I brought variety to the court,' Sabalenka said. 'My serve worked well. On the return I played really great tennis.' The runner-up last year will face either Victoria Mboko or Amanda Anisimova next.
Australia's Talia Gibson claimed the biggest win of her career, beating Italy's world No 7 Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 in her first match against a top-10 player. The 21-year-old qualifier became the first to reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals in 11 years. 'I just have a confidence in the way I'm playing ... I'm in shock,' Gibson said.
In the men's draw, Alexander Zverev saw off Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4, converting two of three break points and firing 14 aces. The fourth seed will face Arthur Fils as he aims to reach his first Indian Wells semi-final. Fils produced a stunning 6-3, 7-6 (9) win against Felix Auger-Aliassime, saving five set points and rallying from 0-5 down in the second-set tie-break.
