Top seed Simona Halep schooled China’s Wang Qiang 7-5 6-1 in a first-time meeting to book her spot in the women’s quarter-finals at the Indian Wells Masters on Tuesday.

The Romanian, who won the desert title in 2015, spent an hour and a quarter in advancing to the last eight, where she faces either Croatian Petra Martic or Czech Marketa Vondrousova.

Halep had to work in the opening set before cruising in the second against the world No.55.

Halep needs to reach the final at the Tennis Garden to hang onto her top WTA ranking against a charge from Australian Open winner and formerly top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki.

“I knew what I had to do, I played well,” Halep said.

Halep got the better of Qiang’s serve, breaking on seven of eight occasions.