Top seed Belinda Bencic powered past China's Wang Yafan, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open at the Victoria Park Tennis Centre.
Canadian third seed Victoria Mboko also advanced, rallying to fend off the challenge of the relentless crowd favorite Alexandra Eala of the Philippines to pull out a dramatic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win in a night match that lasted two and a half hours.
Playing in significantly warmer weather two days after winning her first match under lights on Centre Court, the Swiss star broke Wang twice in each set to complete the win in just over an hour set up a showdown with Spain’s Cristina Bucsa today.
Former Olympic champion Bencic, fresh from her victory in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo last weekend, broke for a 3-1 lead in the second then held serve at love. She was never in trouble the rest of the way, clinching the match with a forehand return that Wang netted.
The warm weather also wasn't a problem for Anna Kalinskaya, who strolled past Chinese veteran Zhang Shuai 6-1, 6-1 in 51 minutes. The Russian sixth seed will now face Mboko for a place in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, home hope Eudice Chong's bid to advance deeper into the tournament was ended by Japanese Himeno Sakatsume, who won their last-16 match 6-2, 6-1.
