Swiss teen sends Wozniacki crashing out of Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS: Plucky Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic pulled off the biggest win of her young career on Monday at Indian Wells by upsetting world number five Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets.

The 18-year-old Bencic, who had never beaten a top-five player, won 6-4, 6-4 in the third round of the WTA and ATP hardcourt tournament.

"I am very happy. I'm really excited," Bencic said. "I always watched her on TV or when I was a small girl she was my idol and a role model for me and for my game."

Wozniacki, a former Indian Wells champion who is seeded fourth, won her 23rd career singles title just two weeks ago in Kuala Lumpur.

Bencic had played Wozniacki just once before in Istanbul, Turkey last year where she was crushed 6-0, 6-0.

Asked Monday what the biggest difference between the two matches was, Bencic joked, "I won a game."

"I played more solid," she added. "In Istanbul I had too much respect and I was nervous. Today I really had a good game plan. I did what I had to do."

It is the first time in three attempts that the world number 37 Bencic has beaten a top five player but this is now her third career win over a top 10 opponent.

Bencic, who was named the WTA Tour's Newcomer of the Year last year, beat world number seven Angelique Kerber and world number 10 Jelena Jankovic during a brilliant run at the 2014 US Open before losing in the quarter-finals.