Angelique Kerber has had to battle from a set down to overcome Russian qualifier Natalia Vikhlyantseva in the third round of the WTA event at Indian Wells.
Reigning Wimbledon champion Kerber required almost two hours to secure a 3-6 6-1 6-3 win in her toughest test of the fortnight so far.
“[Matches like this] give me again confidence that I can turn around matches; that I can play also three sets; also in the close moments that I’m there, that I can trust myself,”” German Kerber said.
In the round of 16, eighth-seeded Kerber will meet ninth seed Aryna Sabalenka after the Belarusian conquered Lesia Tsurenko 6-2 7-5.
The 20-year-old Sabalenka raced through the first four games of the match in about 15 minutes and opened up a 6-2 4-1 lead before the Ukranian veteran fought back late in the second set.
Former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova eased through to the next round with a 6-3 6-2 triumph over Belgian qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure.
“The only good thing was my serve today, with a lot of aces and service winners,” Pliskova said during her on-court interview.
“Overall, I think my game was a bit bad today. The conditions changed from my last match, but hopefully in the next match I can play better.”
The fifth-seeded Czech Pliskova moved on to face Estonian 21st seed Anett Kontaveit, who was put through after her 11th-seeded opponent Anastasija Sevastova retired when trailing 5-0 in the first set.
Former world No.1 Venus Williams made short work of fellow American Christine McHale to reach the fourth round.
Williams dropped serve in the first game but surged back into form to overcome McHale 6-2 7-5 as she aims for a first final in Indian Wells.
The unseeded Williams will face Mona Barthel for a place in the quarter-finals after the German upset her seeded countrywoman Julia Goerges 7-5 1-6 6-4.
Fresh off her victory at the Dubai Championships last month, Swiss star Belinda Bencic extended her winning streak to 10 matches with a 6-4 6-2 trouncing of Ekaterina Alexandrova.