Azarenka loses in Indian Wells

Belarusian number one Victoria Azarenka failed to reach the last 16 at BNP Paribas Indian Wells losing 4-6, 3-6 to world number two Maria Sharapova of Russia.

Despite the defeat, the Belarusian showed a good game and was highly competitive. The luck in the decisive moments, however, was with the Russian player who was more precise in her serves and attacks from the baseline.

Now, the two players go 7-7 in their head-to-head series.

Maria Sharapova next meets with either Samantha Stosur of Australia (World No.25) or Italy's Flavia Pennetta (16). The Russian player won the tournament twice: in 2006 she beat her fellow Russian Yelena Dementyeva 6-1, 6-2 in the final and flattened Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki 6-1, 6-1 in 2013. Maria Sharapova holds 34 WTA titles.

In the second round of BNP Paribas Indian Wells Victoria Azarenka closed out World No. 61 Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium in two sets 6:2, 6:4.

Victoria Azarenka made her ninth appearance on the Indian Wells courts. In 2012 Azarenka claimed the BNP Paribas Open title beating Maria Sharapova in the final 6-2, 6-3.

During her professional career, which began in 2003, Victoria Azarenka won 17 titles at the WTA competitions.

The current tournament in Indian Wells completes on 22 March.