Emma Navarro continued her breakthrough season with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win over Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka to reach the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals in Indian Wells.

Navarro, who won her first WTA title in Hobart this year, was able to outlast the world No 2 in a back-and-forth contest that lasted one hour and 56 minutes.

Two breaks in the decider helped Navarro claim the 18th win of her season, which puts her top of the list of most WTA wins in 2024, ahead of Iga Swiatek.

Sabalenka was the runner-up in Indian Wells 12 months ago and entered this match fresh from a solid win over Emma Raducanu, but has struggled for form since her latest victory in Melbourne.

It was Navarro who claimed the decisive opening break of the first set to move 5-3 up and an ace helped seal it to give the 22-year-old American the initiative.

The two-time Australian Open winner fought back in the second set to force a decider, where both claimed early breaks.

Navarro was able to follow up a run of three consecutive breaks between the pair with a crucial hold to open up a 4-1 lead and the New Yorker never looked back to clinch the best win of her career.