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Aryna Sabalenka eased past Naomi Osaka 6-2, 6-4 to reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals while the fourth seed, Alexander Zverev, progressed to the last eight in the men’s event.
Sabalenka and Osaka, both four-time grand slam title winners, were meeting for the first time since 2018, when the Japanese won at the US Open en route to her maiden major title, but the world No 1’s power proved too much for one of her predecessors.
“Yeah, that’s crazy, for so many years we only played once. I’m pretty sure we are playing many more matches – she’s coming back playing great tennis,” Sabalenka said in her on-court interview. “I’m pretty happy for the result today, much better than last time.”
Osaka began confidently with a strong opening service game, but Sabalenka soon found her rhythm and capitalised on a brief dip from the Japanese, breaking for 2-1 after two double faults. The Belarusian tightened her grip with a barrage of powerful backhands to lead 5-2, then served out the set comfortably with an ace.
After a series of solid holds from both players early in the second, Sabalenka again used her firepower to take control, breaking again for a 4-2 lead that proved decisive as she closed out victory to continue her run in the tournament without dropping 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. Happy with my performance for sure.”
Sabalenka, the runner-up last year, will continue her quest for a first title in the California desert against either Canada’s Victoria Mboko or the American Amanda Anisimova.
Australia’s Talia Gibson enjoyed 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, playing her first WTA 1000 main draw, also became the first qualifier in 11 years to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament. “I just have a confidence in the way I’m playing … I’m in shock,” Gibson said.
In the men’s draw, Zverev saw off Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4, converting two of three break points and firing 14 aces to seal his ninth win against the 21st-seeded American. He will next face France’s Arthur Fils as he looks to reach his first Indian Wells semi-final.
Fils produced a stunning 6-3, 7-6 (9) win against the Canadian ninth seed, Félix Auger-Aliassime, saving five set points and rallying from 0-5 down in the second-set tiebreak to book a place in the quarter-finals for the second consecutive year.
