Sabalenka dominates Osaka to secure spot in Indian Wells last eight

Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, secured a spot in the Indian Wells quarter-finals on Tuesday by defeating Naomi Osaka, a former champion, with a score of 6-2, 6-4.

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Sabalenka's victory was marked by 31 winners and eight aces, making it another straightforward win for the Grand Slam champion.

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Sabalenka expressed her satisfaction with the match, stating that she was happy to have applied pressure on Osaka and introduced variety to her gameplay, which seemed to confuse her opponent at key moments.

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She also praised her own serve and return, saying that she played great tennis, particularly on the return.

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The first set saw Sabalenka take two breaks of serve, while Osaka struggled to find her rhythm, but eventually began to perform better.

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However, Osaka was unable to break Sabalenka's serve in the second set, as Sabalenka saved both break points she faced and took a break for 4-3 with two forehand winners.

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This match was only the second meeting between the two four-time Grand Slam winners, with Osaka having won their first encounter in 2018 on her way to winning the US Open.

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Sabalenka found it surprising that they had not met more often, but predicted that there would be more clashes in the future as Osaka regains her momentum on the WTA Tour after taking a break in 2023 to have her daughter, Shai.

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Sabalenka, who was the runner-up at Indian Wells in 2023 and 2025, will face either sixth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova or 10th-seeded Canadian teen Victoria Mboko in the next round.

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Mboko, 19, is one of several rising talents in action, along with Alexandra Eala, Linda Noskova, and Talia Gibson, who will all compete later on Tuesday.

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Eala, a 20-year-old who has put Philippines tennis on the map, will take on 14th-seeded Czech Noskova under the lights on Stadium court.

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Aussie qualifier Gibson will face seventh-seeded Italian Jasmine Paolini in another match.