Serena Williams recovered from a nightmare start to overcome her compatriot Sloane Stephens and reach the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells . 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 ( 7/3 ) , 6-2 , 6-2 win in two hours and seven minutes . Serena Williams recovered from a bad start to overcome her compatriot Sloane Stephens on Tuesday . Williams ( left ) is congratulated by Stephens following her 6-7 ( 7/3 ) . 6-2 . 6-2 Indian Wells victory . It proved a much tougher challenge for Williams - making her first appearance in Indian Wells in 14 years - than her 53-minute triumph over Zarina Diyas in the previous round . Shocked by Stephens ' strong start , Williams battled back to level but the world number 42 dominated the tie-break to raise hopes of levelling the career wins between the pair at two apiece . Williams had other ideas , breaking her opponent early in the second set and refusing to allow Stephens a single break point chance before she served out confidently to level the match . A rattled Stephens dropped her serve again in the first game of the decider and when Williams broke again to go 5-2 ahead it was only a matter of time before she completed her comeback victory . The world No 1 dropped her first two service games in the fourth career meeting between the two friends . Stephens dropped her serve in the first game of the deciding set before Williams claimed victory .
Serena Williams defeats Sloane Stephens in three sets at Indian Wells . Stephens shocked World No 1 by storming into first set lead . Williams battled back to earn place in Tuesday .