Indian Wells: Aryna Sabalenka into quarter-finals with 6-2 6-4 win over Naomi Osaka

World primary Aryna Sabalenka moved into the quarter-finals at Indian Wells with a 6-2 6-4 victory over Naomi Osaka.

The two four-time Grand Slam champions have been assembly for the primary time since 2018, when Osaka beat Sabalenka en path to successful the US Open.

But on this event Sabalenka, 27, proved too robust for the sixteenth seed as she wrapped up the match inside 80 minutes.

“It’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 stated.

“I’m pretty happy for the result – much better than last time.”

Osaka, who didn’t play for 14 months across the start of daughter Shai in July 2023, started the match with a assured opening service sport.

However, Sabalenka quickly discovered her rhythm and broke the 28-year-old Japanese’s serve to take a 2-1 lead.

The Belarusian tightened his grip with a barrage of highly effective backhands to guide 5-2, then served out the set comfortably with an ace.

Osaka and Sabalenka each held serve early within the second set earlier than the latter seized management at 4-2 with a decisive break earlier than she served out for the match.

“I’m happy that I put so much pressure on her today, that I brought variety to the court,” Sabalenka added.

“My serve worked well. On the return I played really great tennis. Happy with my performance for sure.”

Sabalenka, who completed runner-up final yr, will face Canada’s Victoria Mboko within the final eight.

Mboko received 6-4 6-1 in opposition to American Amanda Anisimova, who completed British primary Emma Raducanu’s event in the previous round.

Elsewhere, Australia’s Talia Gibson loved the most important win of her profession with a 7-5 2-6 6-1 victory over Italy’s world quantity seven Jasmine Paolini, in her first match in opposition to a top-10 participant.

The 21-year-old Gibson, ranked 112 on this planet and enjoying her first WTA 1000 principal draw, additionally turned the primary qualifier in 11 years to succeed in the quarter-finals of the event.