China's Zheng Qinwen reaches BNP Paribas Open round of 16

Zheng Qinwen of China defeated Lulu Sun of New Zealand 6-4, 7-5 in the women's singles third round at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, on Sunday, advancing to the round of 16 at the tournament for the first time in her career.

Zheng and Sun had played each other once before and Sun upset Zheng in the first round of Wimbledon last year.

World No. 9 Zheng broke Sun in the fifth game, leading 3-2 in the opening set. Though Sun immediately returned the favor to tie the set 3-3, Zheng scored her second break in the seventh. Both held their following services games before Zheng blasted an ace to clinch the set 6-4.

Zheng had a great start in the second set, breaking Sun for a 2-0 lead. Sun saved three break points in the third and then broke Zheng in the fourth to tie the set 2-2. The break exchange continued until the eighth game when Zheng held to lead 5-3. However, she then conceded two straight games and the set was tied again at 5-5.

Zheng improved her touch from the 11th game, breaking Sun again and then holding to seal the deal. She will face No. 18 seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine next.

Earlier on the day, Zhang Shuai of China and Hsieh Su-wei of Chinese Taipei reached the women's doubles quarterfinals by defeating Americans Makenna Jones and McCartney Kessler 6-2, 6-3.

Fifth seeded Zhang and Hsieh won 81 percent of their first-serve points and converted four of five break points to take the match in just over an hour.

Jones and Kessler served five double faults and won just one of 10 break point opportunities.

Zhang and Hsieh will confront Australia's Ellen Perez and Latvian Jelena Ostapenko for a place in the semifinals on Tuesday.

Earlier on the day, Chinese pair Xu Yifan and Yang Zhaoxuan bowed out of the competition after losing to Ukraine's Lyudmyla Kichenok and Sofia Kenin of the U.S. 6-3, 4-6, 10-6.

Kichenok and Kenin served three aces and won 77 percent of the points on their first serve to prevail in one hour and 28 minutes.

Meanwhile, China's Wang Xinyu was eliminated from the women's singles, falling in the third round to American fourth seed Jessica Pegula.

World No. 42 Wang served three double faults and saved just two of seven break points en route to a 6-2, 6-1 defeat.

Pegula, who is aiming for her eighth career title in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 event, put 78 percent of her first serves in play as she set up a round of 16 meeting with Ukraine's Elina Svitolina.