Paula Badosa, who is seeking to become the first woman to defend the Indian Wells title in over three decades, powered past Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarter finals on Tuesday while Simona Halep and Iga Swiatek also advanced.

Badosa, who is looking to emulate Martina Navratilova’s feat of retaining the crown in 1990-91, converted three out of her 12 break point opportunities and the Spaniard held her nerve in key moments of the tight contest to prevail.

Halep dispatched fellow-Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-4.

Poland’s Swiatek battled past former world No.1 Angelique Kerber 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 and reach the last eight. Kerber broke early in the third for a 3-1 lead but the third-seeded Swiatek broke back to level at 3-3 and rolled on.

Among men, Matteo Berrettini saved three set points to defeat South African Lloyd Harris 6-4, 7-5 and American Taylor Fritz survived a nearly three-hour battle with Jaume Munar to advance to the Round of 16.

American John Isner enjoyed a 7-5, 6-3 win over 14th seed Diego Schwartzman.