Kasatkina on a roll - downs Kerber

The world is a happy place for Daria Kasatkina (20) as she continues to beat the very best tennis players in the world.

On Day Nine of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the 20 year old Russian didn’t just beat Angie Kerber (10) in a quarter final - she pulverised the former world number one and dual Grand Slam title holder.

The first set showcased all the shots that Kasatkina now has at her disposal, and the sheer confidence with which she is able to pick and choose when to play them.

The repeated forehand winners just had too much power behind them for Kerber to handle, and the timing of drop shots and angled backhands drew a number of errors from the German who only managed to win six points on her own serve for the set.

6-0 and Kasatkina was half way to the final four in just 22 minutes of wonderful tennis.

Set two was more of the same, although Kerber did improve, at least winning half the points on her serve.

Not nearly enough of a performance lift to bother Kasatkina who broke serve twice from two chances and won the quarter final 6-0 6-2.

Of her last 14 matches in 2018, Kasatkina has won 11, five of those against Grand Slam title winners, including the last three here in Indian Wells.

Sitting now at a live ranking of 14, a new career high, Daria will move to 11 should she beat Venus Williams (8) in their semi final.

Venus had too much class for Carla Suárez Navarro in the other quarter final decided on Day Nine, enjoying a 6-3 6-2 victory.

Meanwhile the first of the men’s quarter finals were held, with Roger Federer (1) tossing aside Hyeon Chung (23) 7-5 6-1 in one of them.

Federer dropped serve just once for the match (first set), while managing to crack open the Korean delivery twice in each set.

Chung lost the second set easily, but the scoreline doesn’t show that he had the same amount of break points - five - as Federer for the set. He just couldn’t convert.

Federer will play Borna Coric in the semi finals after the unseeded Croatian upset Kevin Anderson (7) in almost two and a half hours 2-6 6-4 7-6(3).

Yet another seed that Roger won’t have to face after he again successfully subcontracted a hit job, this time on Anderson.

Day Ten offers up a big serving quarter final between Sam Querrey (18) and Milos Raonic (32), and another interesting clash between Juan Martin del Potro (6) and the in form Philipp Kohlschreiber (31).

The women’s semi finals, to be played at night, will be the highlights though.

Naomi Osaka is enjoying what may well develop into a break out year.

At a mere 20 years old, she will face stiff opposition from top seed Simona Halep.

Another 20 year old Daria Kasatkina, seeded 20, will push Venus Williams (8) to the limit in the first of the semis.

This means we have the youngest pair of Indian Wells semi finalists since 2009 when the then 19 year old Vika Azarenka and 17 year old Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova made the final four.