“Super-focused” world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka beat Jaqueline Cristian in Indian Wells, hitting 23 winners to reach the fourth round.
The 27-year-old Belarusian player was expected to win the first set, but he made a double fault while serving.
However, the four-time Grand Slam champion’s quick counterattack allowed her to win the match 6-4, and then she won the second set 6-1 to seal the victory.
“I knew she wasn’t going to give up easily,” Sabalenka said of Romanian Christian, ranked 35th in the world.
“That’s why I’m very focused, especially on my serve. I don’t want to give her too many chances, so [I was] Very happy with the serve, the match and of course the win. “
She will next face No. 16 seed Naomi Osaka of Japan, who defeated Camila Osorio of Colombia 6-1 3-6 6-1.
Osaka, another four-time Grand Slam champion, withdrew from the Australian Open before the third round in January due to an abdominal injury, her first match since her first match.
The 28-year-old later told Sky Sports that she had readjusted her “attitude and shot selection” ahead of the decider, adding that she was “very excited” for her upcoming match against Sabalenka.
