Zheng enjoys a Wells-timed resurgence with back-to-back wins

Indian Wells is known as the "Tennis Paradise" for a reason, and Zheng Qinwen has finally found the California tournament enjoyable on her third visit. Of course the world-class facilities and glamorous vibe at the WTA1000 tournament suited Zheng, as well as others, but it wasn't until the Chinese No 1 posted two straight wins for the first time this season — over two bitter rivals she'd never beaten before — that Zheng found the topflight tournament in the Californian desert a pleasing place to be. This will make me love coming to the Tennis Paradise more," the 8th-seeded Zheng said after beating New Zealand's Lulu Sun in straight sets on Sunday night to advance into the last 16 at the BNP Paribas Open for the first time. Sunday's triumph also marked Zheng's first back-to-back wins this season, after she beat two-time major champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus for the first time in their third encounter in Friday's tournament opener, showing a glimpse of recovery in Zheng's form after a slow start this year. I didn't put world No 1 in my dream, I put the Slams," said Zheng, whose best performance at a major was a runner-up finish at last year's Australian Open, eventually won by Belarusian world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.