Serena Williams has overpowered in three sets, fellow American, Sloane Stephens, to qualify for the quarter finals of the Indian Wells tournament.
Williams lost the first set in a tie breaker, but beat Sloane 6-2,6-2 in the last two sets
World number one Serena Williams woke up after a slow start to battle past American compatriot Sloane Stephens in three sets to reach the quarter-finals.
The 19-time Grand Slam winner defeated a dogged Stephens as her emotional return from a 14-year Indian Wells boycott gathers pace.
Williams, 33, said it was good to play a two-hour match because she needs to step up her game if she is going to advance deeper into the draw.
“I still am trying to find my bearings,” she said. “I have been off a little this week.
“I just had to stay focused and use the experience of a three-set match.”
Williams, who blasted 14 aces and broke Stephens six times in the two-hour, six-minute match, faces Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland next.
The two former Fed Cup teammates have a colourful history after Stephens, 21, upset Williams in the quarter-finals of the 2013 Australian Open in three sets.
That win ended Williams’ 20-match winning streak and the two haven’t been chummy since then.
Sixth seeded Canadian Eugenie Bouchard was upset by qualifier Lesia Tsurenko, who rallied for a 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-4 victory.
In other matches Tuesday, defending champ Flavia Pennetta eliminated second-seeded Maria Sharapova of Russia 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 and third seed Simona Halep, of Romania, defeated Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-4.