The World No.2 defeated Poland's Magda Linette 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in a match that lasted for two hours and 9 minutes to book her place in the third round of the tournament.
Fourth seed Elena Rybakina ended World No. 1 Iga Swiatek's campaign for a third title at the Stuttgart Open with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 triumph in the semifinals.
Swiatek secured her second Indian Wells Open title win with a 6-4, 6-0 title win over Maria Sakkari, winning the final eight games of the match, knocking off Sakkari for the second time in two years to secure her second title at California after 2022.
This is the 25th edition of the Laureus Awards - now regarded as the "athletes' awards" due to their unique selection process and the regard in which they are held by sportsmen and women at all levels.