Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka first met in a high-stakes affair at the 2018 U.S. Open, where Osaka took the victory and went on to win the title in Flushing Meadows.

Their second clash was another highly anticipated tilt, but this time Sabalenka’s firepower held sway.

The World No. 1 won a battle of four-time Grand Slam champions, 6-2, 6-4, to book her spot in the quarterfinals in Tennis Paradise.

“That's actually crazy,” Sabalenka said. “For so many years on tour, we only played once. I'm pretty sure we're going to play many more matches. She’s coming back, she’s playing great tennis – of course. I'm super happy with the result today, much better than the last time we played.”

An Early Advantage

Wicked serves, penetrating groundstrokes: Sabalenka fired away with fury beneath perfect blue skies on Tuesday inside Stadium 1, and whenever she faced pressure from Osaka, the 27-year-old rose to the challenge.

Three double faults in Osaka’s second service game of the match helped Sabalenka to a break and a 2-1 lead.

Thirteen winners later, Sabalenka had the opening set in her pocket, 6-2.

Osaka’s Push

Eager to find her front foot, Osaka picked up her intensity in the second set, earning her first break point of the match in the second game, at 30-40. It was neatly scrubbed away by Sabalenka with a crosscourt backhand winner that whizzed into the open court.

With the crowd willing Osaka on, the 2018 champion fought off a break point to hold for 3-2 in set two, but her good fortunes ran out two games later as two rocketed Sabalenka forehands — the second inside-out and into a wide-open court — gave the two-time Indian Wells runner-up the critical 4-3 advantage.

A final Osaka break point opportunity went begging in the next game, thanks to a perfectly placed body serve by Sabalenka.

Moments later, after a final Osaka hold of serve, Sabalenka closed out the contest on her racket.

The World No. 1 and top seed will face the winner of tonight’s clash between Victoria Mboko and Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinals. Sabalenka improves to 18-6 lifetime in the California desert as she bids for her first title in her seventh appearance.