Top seed Iga Swiatek overpowered Yulia Putintseva 6-1 6-2 on Tuesday to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells, where she will face former world number one Caroline Wozniacki.
Swiatek made a slow start and was forced to save four break points in the third game before getting in control of the match. The Pole then quickly took a 5-1 lead, which led a frustrated Putintseva throwing her racket to the floor, as she bagged the first set in less than 30 minutes.
Swiatek, the 2022 winner, also proved too strong for her Kazakh opponent in the second set as she clinched a comfortable win.
"I knew I had to keep my focus (in the second set), she was trying different stuff out there," said Swiatek, who dropped serve twice in the second frame.
"But I just really wanted to play my game and focus on what I want to do. I'm glad I did that."
Wozniacki, who made a comeback to the tour last year after moving away from the game in 2020 to start a family, brushed aside fellow mother Angelique Kerber 6-4 6-2 earlier in the day.
"She's a really experienced player," Swiatek said of the 2011 champion. "I think she's playing great after her maternity break, she was fighting to come back.
"I have huge respect. It's going to be a nice match."
Wozniacki said she was eager to continue her run at Indian Wells, after qualifying for the quarters for the first time in four years.
"I'm just enjoying myself and I'm just thrilled I get another match in front of all of you guys," she said.
Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk eased past Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 6-1 and next faces Anastasia Potapova, who defeated Jasmine Paolini 7-5 0-6 6-3.
"It definitely helped that I played her (recently)," the 21-year-old Kostyuk, who reached the Australian Open quarters in January for her best result at a Grand Slam, told the Tennis Channel.
"The conditions were much better for my game here, the ball bounces much higher and it's a bit warmer. I didn't feel like I was in so much trouble like I did in San Diego."
Potapova qualified for the quarter-finals of a Masters event with her victory over Dubai champion Paolini, breaking the Italian's eight-match winning streak.