Aryna Sabalenka denied it had been an easy ride after dropping just three games in Monday's win over Lucia Bronzetti, which took her into the last 16 at Indian Wells.

The world number one, who is chasing her first-ever title at the WTA 1000 event in California, posted a 75-minute, 6-1 6-2 victory.

Bronzetti was unable to deal with Sabalenka's power from the baseline in the opening set, with the Belarusian forcing six break points and converting four of those opportunities.

The Italian did manage a break to go 2-0 up at the start of the second set, but Sabalenka came roaring back with three successive breaks to take the contest away from her.

"Conditions were tough today. She played an incredible match," Sabalenka said after the match. 

"The score looks easy, but it wasn't an easy match. I had to fight for every point."

In the round of 16, Sabalenka will face Great Britain's Sonay Kartal, who was given a main-draw reprieve when Sloane Stephens withdrew and has since beaten Varvara Lepchenko, Beatriz Haddad Maia and Polina Kudermetova.

It will be the first time the WTA's top-ranked player has ever faced a lucky loser in the last 16 or later at a WTA 1000 event, since the format's 2009 introduction.

 

 

 

 

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Data Debrief: Sabalenka marches on

Sabalenka's victory took her into the round of 16 for the 27th time at WTA 1000 events since the start of 2020.

Only Jessica Pegula (30) has reached that stage more often during that span, with Iga Swiatek level with Sabalenka on 27.