World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated No. 35 Jaqueline Cristian 6-4, 6-1 in Indian Wells on Monday, WIB, to set up a meeting with Naomi Osaka in the round of 16 of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open.
Sabalenka and Osaka have only met once before, eight years ago at the US Open in the fourth round. Osaka, the 20th seed, defeated Sabalenka, the 26th seed, in three sets. Both were just 20 years old at the time.
"I'll have a chance to get revenge, hopefully. I'd love to play against her," Sabalenka said after the match.
While Sabalenka recorded her 23rd consecutive win over a player outside the top 20, 16th-ranked Osaka defeated Camila Osorio 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.
Sabalenka, who missed the two WTA 1000 tournaments in the Middle East, looked very relaxed in her two straight sets matches after a five-week break.
Her only loss in 14 matches this year came against Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final.
This was the first meeting of Sabalenka and Cristian's careers, and the top seed immediately came out aggressive.
