Elise Mertens sets up Maria Sakkari clash as Johanna Konta also win in Rabat

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Johanna Konta in action

Defending champion Elise Mertens made light work of Ivana Jorovic to join fellow seeds Maria Sakkari and Johanna Konta in the quarter-final of the Morocco Open.

The top-seeded Mertens won the last seven games of the match as she steamrolled the Serb 6-4, 6-0 in the second round.

“I think my serve wasn’t as good as the first match, but I managed to get the win and battle on the clay,” the Belgian said.

“In the second there, there were a lot of deuces, advantage in the games, so it was a really tight match overall.”

Next up is a tricky encounter against sixth seed Sakkari after the Greek claimed a solid 6-4, 6-4 win over Bulgarian qualifier Isabella Shinikova.

Fourth seed Alja Tomljanovic was made to work for her win by Timea Bacsinszky as the Australian overcame a second-set wobble to win 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 and earn a clash against Rebecca Peterson, who was a 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 winner over Polona Hercog.

British No 1 Konta also had to battle for her win as the seventh seed beat Romanian Ana Bogdan 6-1, 6-7 (6-8), 6-2 and her reward is a last-eight showdown with second seed Hsieh Su-wei, who beat Lara Arruabarrena 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

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