Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova eased past Kristina Mladenovic to reach the quarter-finals of Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.

After eliminating Serena Williams on Tuesday, Kvitova took little time to make it through round three, seeing off her opponent 6-4 6-2.

In between rain interruptions, the pair exchanged breaks in the first set, Kvitova ultimately serving out the set and moving on to break Mladenovic in a marathon game at the start of the second.

Kvitova kept up the momentum from there, racing to a 5-0 lead and despite dropping serve and failing to convert a match point, she served out on her second attempt to take the match after 90 minutes on court.

The former world number two will now face number 15 seed Elise Mertens, who beat US Open champion Sloane Stephens in straight sets 7-6 (10/8) 6-2.

Aryna Sabalenka claimed a fourth top 10 scalp in her career, beating number six seed Caroline Garcia 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, while Madison Keys moved into the last eight as she fired nine aces on her way to overcoming fourth seed Angelique Kerber 2-6, 7-6 (7/3) 6-4.

Number one seed Simona Halep defeated Ajla Tomljanovic 4-6 6-3 6-3 in her rain-delayed second-round match and will now play Ashleigh Barty on Friday after the stormy weather ended the day’s play early.

The winner of that match will play Lesia Tsurenko, who defeated Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (7/5) 6-2.

Matches between Anett Kontaveit and Kiki Bertens, and Elina Svitolina and Amanda Anisimova will also take place on Friday in Cincinnati.