INDIAN WELLS: World number two Jannik Sinner survived a stern test from Joao Fonseca on Tuesday to reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals, while women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka eased past 16th seed Naomi Osaka 6-2, 6-4 to progress to the women’s last eight.

Sinner was pushed hard by the 19-year-old Brazilian, trailing 6-3 in the first set before rallying to close out the match 7-6(8/6), 7-6(7/4).

The Italian will now meet the home favourite Learner Tien on Friday for a place in the last four.

Meanwhile, in the first meeting between the two four-time Grand Slam champions since 2018 — when Osaka beat Sabalenka at the US Open en route to her maiden major title — the Belarusian’s power proved too much for the former world No. 1 on Tuesday.

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.

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 in closing out the win and continuing her run in the tournament without dropping a set.

Last year’s runner-up Sabalenka will continue her quest for a first title in the California desert against Canada’s Victoria Mboko, who sailed past higher-ranked American Amanda Anisimova 6-4, 6-1.

It will be a rematch of an Australian Open round-of-16 between the two, which Sabalenka won in straight sets.

Elsewhere, 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.

Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova, the 14th seed, sailed past Alexandra Eala in just 55 minutes with a 6-2, 6-0 win to book a quarter-final meeting with Gibson.

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 to seal his ninth win over the 21st-seeded American.

He will next face France’s Arthur Fils as he looks to reach his first Indian Wells semi-final.

Fils earlier produced a stunning 6-3, 7-6(11/9) win over Canadian ninth seed Felix 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.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2026