Emma Navarro downs world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka in Indian Wells

Emma Navarro continued her breakthrough season with a 6-3 3-6 6-2 win over Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka to reach the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals in Indian Wells.

Navarro, who won her maiden WTA title in Hobart earlier this year, was able to outlast the world number two in a back and forth contest that lasted one hour and 56 minutes.

Two breaks in the decider helped Navarro claim the 18th win of her season, which puts her top of the list of most WTA wins in 2024 ahead of Iga Swiatek.

Sabalenka had been a runner-up in Indian Wells 12 months ago and entered this tie fresh from a solid win over Emma Raducanu, but has struggled for form since her latest victory in Melbourne.

It was Navarro that claimed the decisive opening break of the first set to move 5-3 up and an ace helped seal it to give the American the initiative.

Two-time Australian Open winner Sabalenka fought back in the second to force a decider, which saw both claim early breaks.

Navarro was able to follow up a run of three consecutive breaks between the pair with a crucial hold to open up a 4-1 lead and the 22-year-old never looked back to clinch the best win of her career.

Coco Gauff marked her birthday in style after she raced into the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals with a 6-0 6-2 win over Elise Mertens.

Gauff won the first eight games of the last-16 tie before Mertens finally got on the board at the start of the second set with a break of her own.

It was short respite for the Belgian, with Gauff able to quickly break back again before she sealed victory in 66 minutes, which made it a celebratory occasion for the US Open champion on her 20th birthday.