Indian Wells: World number 1 Simona Halep in last eight
Women's world number 1 Simona Halep safely progressed into the quarter-finals with a convincing 7-5, 6-1 victory against Wang Qiang. She will next play un-seeded Petra Martic of Croatia, who overcame Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 7-6 to progress. The 2018 Australian Open finalist is one of the two former champions left in the draw and has won 17 out of 18 matches in this season.
According to a report, Simona Halep feels that tennis authorities should have a protected seeding system for players returning after maternity leave. She felt Serena Williams should have been seeded number 1 as she left in the same position last year before leave.
There were wins for veteran Venus Williams and former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova. Venus, who conquered sister Serena in the previous round, was given a stern test from Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova but she won 7-6, 6-4. Meanwhile, 5th seed Pliskova beat Amanda Anisimova 6-1, 7-6. Pliskova will face Japan's Naomi Osaka. Caroline Wozniacki was stunned by 20-year-old Russian Kasatkina 6-4, 7-5.
Yuki Bhambri's strong run at the Indian Wells came to an end but not without him giving a stern fight. The gritty men's singles player bowed out of men's third round after going down in three sets against 18th seed Sam Querrey. Bhambri won the first set 7-6, but Querrey hit back to win the next two 6-4, 6-4. Bhambri is world number 110.
In the men's singles event world number 3 Marin Cilic suffered a shock 4-6, 4-6 defeat in straight sets to Philipp Kohlschreiber. Meanwhile, senior Juan Martin del Potro ascended higher by overcoming Spain's David Ferrer 6-4, 7-6. He would next face fellow Argentine Leonardo Mayer.
