19-time grand slam champion Serena Williams fought her way through to the quarter finals of the BNP Paribas Open after defeating fellow American Sloane Stephens at Indian Wells.
The top seed managed to edge over Stephens with a scrappy 6-7 (7-3) 6-2 6-2 victory to extend her winning streak against the American to 14 matches.
The world number one struggled to secure the first set, losing it by one point though she fought back to secure the following sets to seal her quarter final spot.
She will next face Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky, who defeated Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-4, 1-6, 1-6.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal is a step away from the quarter finals after sending Donald Young packing with an easy 6-4, 6-2 victory in the third round.
He will next take on Gilles Simon, who beat Germany’s Michael Berrer 6-2, 7-5.
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