World number one Serena Williams ended Timea Bacsinszky's winning run with victory in their BNP Paribas Open quarter-final on Wednesday.
Williams, competing at Indian Wells for the first time since 2001, claimed a 7-5 6-3 victory over the Swiss 27th seed.
The powerful American served seven aces and broke five times on her way to winning in one hour, 25 minutes on the hard courts at the WTA Premier event.
It ended Bacsinszky's 15-win run, which included titles in Acapulco and Monterrey.
Bacsinszky made a confident start against two-time champion Williams, breaking for a 1-0 lead before giving that advantage up in the sixth game.
Williams battled from 15-40 down to hold for 6-5, and she broke in the next game to take the first set.
The duo traded breaks to start the second set before Williams took a 5-3 lead on her way to sealing victory.
Simona Halep awaits Williams in the last four after the Romanian third seed overcame Carla Suarez Navarro 5-7 6-1 6-1.
Spanish 12th seed Suarez Navarro dominated the first set but was no match for Halep from then on.