INDIAN WELLS (California): World No.1 Victoria Azarenka and Maria
Sharapova stayed on track for a mouth-watering showdown in the final of
the WTA Indian Wells tournament, while defending champion Caroline
Wozniacki was beaten by Ana Ivanovic on Tuesday.
Top-seeded Belarusian Azarenka
eased into the last eight with a ruthless 6-3, 6-1 demolition of
Germany's Julia Goerges, before Russia's second seed Sharapova swept
past Italian Roberta Vinci 6-2, 6-1.
Dane Wozniacki, however, was ousted by 2008
winner Ivanovic, who produced sizzling tennis from the baseline to
triumph 6-3, 6-2 in the fourth-round match between the former world
No.1s.
Ivanovic booked her place in the
last eight after breaking Wozniacki three times in the opening set and
twice in the second, leaping into the air in delight when she clinched
victory after 1hr 10min.
'I'm very happy,' the 24-year-old Serb said
after beating the Dane for the first time since the 2008 French Open,
which she went on to win.
'I didn't do much wrong today besides the first few games on my serve. I'm really pleased the way I was aggressive.'
In the men's draw, fifth-seeded Spaniard David
Ferrer was ousted as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer both moved into the
fourth round.
Ferrer was upset 6-4, 6-3 by Uzbekistan's
Denis Istomin, Nadal swept past fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers 6-1,
6-4, and Federer survived an early storm from Milos Raonic before
completing a 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-4 victory.
A winner of three titles this year, Ferrer had
lost only once in 20 ATP matches this season before struggling badly on
his second serve, as he was outplayed by the 51st-ranked Istomin.
'I didn't play a good match even though I
don't want to take credit from him,' the Spaniard tweeted in his native
language.'He was the better player today and played very well, a fair
winner.'