Indian wells
Sabalenka steamrolls modest Italian opposition
Aryna Sabalenka spent just an hour and a quarter in dispatching Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 6-2 on Monday and now faces a British outsider in a bid for the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells Masters.
The world No. 1 brushed aside any challenge from the 62nd-ranked Bronzetti and now will bid for the last eight against unknown Sonay Kartal.
The No. 83 entered the draw as a lucky loser when Sloane Stephens withdrew before the event with a foot injury.
She has progressed to the business end of the event with three straight set wins, the most recent a 7-5, 6-3 result over Polina Kudermetova.
Sabalenka broke Bronzetti five times in her pro forma third-round rout. The top seed lost the 2023 final here to Elena Rybakina
She will retain the top ranking despite any result this week as the lengthy event wraps up on Sunday.
Main photo:- Aryna Sabalenka beating Lucia Bronzetti – by WTATennis.com