Reigning Australian Open champion and world number two Aryna Sabalenka has been knocked out of the Indian Wells Masters owing to a three-set loss to the USA's Emma Navarro in round four.
The 25-year-old - who had beaten Emma Raducanu in round three to make it through to the last 16 - was defeated 3-6 6-3 2-6 to the world number 23 in one hour and 56 minutes, thus prolonging her wait for a first California crown.
Sabalenka had lost last year's final to Elena Rybakina - who had earlier withdrawn from the tournament due to gastrointestinal illness - and came into Indian Wells on the back of a second-round exit at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
An underwhelming serving performance from the Belarusian saw her commit four double faults and only land 58% of her first serves, while a ruthless Navarro took four of the five break points she fashioned.
After a ferocious forehand from the American clipped the line on match point, she subsequently watched Sabalenka's backhand return land long, although she kept her celebrations relatively muted in front of the home crowd.
Fresh from a first-ever win over a top-five opponent, Navarro will meet either Diane Parry or Maria Sakkari in the last eight, where Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff will also be present thanks to fourth-round wins on Wednesday.
The top seed made light work of Yulia Putintseva in a 6-1 6-2 success, while Gauff was just as dominant against Elise Mertens, strolling to a 6-0 6-2 success in 66 minutes. body check tags ::
