Defending Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz advanced to the last eight in the Southern California desert with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Marton Fuksavichs.

Meanwhile, Coco Gauf rallied from a break down in the final set to beat Sweden’s Rebecca Pettersson 6-3 1-6 6-4 to reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals for the first time on Tuesday.

After taking the first set, the sixth-seeded American began to struggle with her forehand in the second, while an opportunistic Peterson began to apply the pressure by going to the net.

But after an early break in the decider, Gauff fended off three break points at 4-4 before breaking Peterson for the fourth time on match point to book her place in the last eight.

Gauff, who turned 19 on Monday, was sung “Happy Birthday” by a partisan crowd in the south after the match California the desert

“It was just mental to stay in the match today,” Gauff said.

“At times I didn’t play my best and I didn’t serve as well as I would have liked, but I think my mentality held me today.”

Gauf will face second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus or Czech Republic’s 16th-seeded Barbara Krejcikova, who will play later on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, seventh seed Maria Sakary defeated the Czech Republic’s prolific Karolina Pliskova 6-4 5-7 6-3 in a marathon two hour 45 minute set to reach the quarters.

With her victory, the Greek keeps her hopes of a first Indian Wells crown alive after reaching the final last year.

Sakari will face third-seeded American Jessica Pegula or 15th-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova for a place in the semifinals.

Gauff needed three sets to beat Sweden’s Rebecca Pettersson 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 in Indian Wells