Sabalenka storms past Osaka to move into the Indian Wells quarter-finals, Zverev progresses

[p]The two four-time Grand Slam champions were ‌[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/osaka-n-MDM4BKiA/sabalenka-a-vyhksgUB/?mid=WGPSqBqn"]meeting for the first time since 2018[/a], when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osaka-naomi/MDM4BKiA/"]‌Osaka[/a] beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Sabalenka[/a] at the US Open en route ‌to her maiden major title, but the Belarusian's ‌power proved too much for the former world number one.[/p][p][b]"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," [/b]Sabalenka said in ​her on-court interview. [b]"I'm pretty happy for the result today, much better than last time."[/b][/p][embed guid="c6548538-0123-4c39-a776-ff67a68520bd" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2031454029004341426" social-type="twitter" /][p]Osaka ​began confidently with a strong opening service game, but top seed Sabalenka soon found her rhythm ⁠and capitalised on a ​brief dip from the Japanese, breaking for 2-1 after two double faults.[/p][p]The Belarusian tightened her grip with a barrage of powerful backhands to lead 5-2, ‌then served out the set comfortably with an ace.[/p][p]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 a set.[/p][p][b]"I'm happy that I put so ‌much pressure on her today, that I brought ​variety to the court," [/b]Sabalenka added. [b]"My serve worked ‌well. On the return, I played really great tennis. Happy with my performance for sure."[/b][/p][p]Last year's runner-up, Sabalenka, will continue her quest for a first title in the California desert against either Canada's Victoria Mboko or American Amanda Anisimova.[/p][p]Australia's Talia Gibson enjoyed the biggest win of her career, beating Italy's world number seven Jasmine Paolini [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/gibson-t-8GwNXON6/paolini-j-noaX0EJn/?mid=zk6NLbcd"]7-5, 2-6, 6-1[/a] in her first match against a top-10 player.[/p][p]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.[/p][p][b]"I just have a confidence in the way I'm playing... ‌I'm in shock," [/b]Gibson said.[/p][p]In the men's draw, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a] saw off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tiafoe-frances/AHDLJaph/"]Frances Tiafoe[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/tiafoe-f-AHDLJaph/zverev-a-dGbUhw9m/?mid=lULp2MJk"]6-3, ‌6-4[/a], converting two of three break points and firing 14 ​aces to seal his ninth win over the 21st-seeded American.[/p][embed guid="3ee1b690-36ae-4848-a527-81eb338a6ea6" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2031488431432282383" social-type="twitter" /][p]He ‌will next face France's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arthur-fils/IoIhUqIN/"]Arthur Fils[/a] as he looks to reach his first Indian Wells semi-final.[/p][p]Fils earlier produced a stunning [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/arthur-f-IoIhUqIN/auger-aliassime-f-CzXh4LAb/?mid=dfPh00l2"]6-3, 7-6(9)[/a] win over Canadian ninth seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/auger-aliassime-felix/CzXh4LAb/"]Felix Auger-Aliassime[/a], 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.[/p]