Maria Sharapova overcomes plucky Carla Suarez Navarro

Maria Sharapova has seen off Carla Suarez Navarro in straight sets to make it through to the last 16 of the BNP Paribas Open.

The second seed toiled in the opening set against the Spaniard, but two breaks allowed her to claim it 7-5.

The second was more straightforward for the Russian, who broke twice to seal the triumph 6-3.

Sharapova, who won the tournament in Indian Wells in 2006, was beaten in last year's final by Victoria Azarenka.