• Indian Wells

Watson and Sharapova knocked out, but Williams battles on

Heather Watson was defeated in two hours and 20 minutes on court © Getty Images

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Heather Watson's Indian Wells run is over, while Maria Sharapova was also knocked out at the fourth-round stage. But Serena Williams battled past fellow American Sloane Stephens.

The British No.1 went into the match on a high after a career-best win over world number eight Agnieszka Radwanska two days ago.

She dropped the opener to Carla Suarez Navarro, but despite clawing her way back into the contest in an impressive second set, Watson fell to a 7-6(5) 3-6 6-1 defeat in two hours and 20 minutes.

Watson had served for the first set but was broken back by the world number 13 who went on to take it on her third opportunity in the tie-break.

Maria Sharapova was far from her best as she went out to Flavia Pennetta © Getty Images

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But the Spaniard required a medical time-out for an ankle injury in the process and Watson looked favourite after levelling the match with a dominant second set.

After a tight start to the decider, Watson's composure deserted her and she was broken twice in succession as her encouraging run in the tournament drew to a disappointing close.

Williams recovered from a nightmare start to overcome her compatriot Sloane Stephens and reach the last eight.

The world No.1 dropped her first two service games in the fourth career meeting between two former friends, whose relationship had cooled in the wake of Stephens' solitary win at the 2013 Australian Open.

Despite dropping the opening set on a tie-break after rallying to recover the double break, Williams became increasingly dominant as the game went on and secured a 6-7(3) 6-2 6-2 win in two hours and seven minutes.

Williams has been subdued on court, with none of the screaming and exuberant fist-pumping that often marks her matches.

"That's why I was so calm after I lost [the first set], because it was like, I don't really need to win this title," Williams said. "Just being out here is a real win for me and I was just calm through it."

Sharapova struggled mightily, too, losing 3-6 6-3 6-2 to defending champion Flavia Pennetta, who won her ninth straight match after becoming emotional and leaving the court in the first set.

The Italian went off and cried, saying she "let everything out, screaming, do something."

"For the first two or three games I was okay," Pennetta said. "Then it's coming. Like I never expect. I never do something like that. Normally you go away and you don't want to stay on the court. But for me was important to just keep calm and try to play. In the end I just play really well."

Pennetta had 34 unforced errors and just 15 winners. Sharapova topped her in both categories with 42 unforced errors and 27 winners to go with 11 double faults.

Pennetta broke two-time Indian Wells champion Sharapova twice in the final set, winning the last seven games.

"She got in a really good rhythm," said Sharapova, who didn't notice Pennetta's meltdown. "Everything I gave her she was able to hit back solid with pace."

Jelena Jankovic, the 2010 champion, outlasted 18-year-old Belinda Bencic 6-3 3-6 6-3, to set up a quarter-final against qualifier Lesia Tsurenko, who stunned sixth seed Eugenie Bouchard who had 74 unforced errors in losing 6-7(5) 7-5 6-4.

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