Smooth sailing for seeds Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber, Elina Svitolina in Doha

WTA Tour
Simona Halep celebrates

Top seed Simona Halep as well as Angelique Kerber and Elina Svitolina had no problems booking their places in the quarter-final of the Qatar Open.

Reigning French Open champion Halep took her head-to-head record against Lesia Tsurenko to 6-0 as she secured a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 victory in under 90 minutes.

Halep won the first five games of the opening set and, after a brief fightback from the Ukrainian, she also reeled off the final five games of the second set to advance.

Next up is Julia Goerges after the ninth-seeded German beat American lucky loser Alison Riske 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4.

Third seed Kerber had an easier day than compatriot Goerges as the three-time Grand Slam winner was a 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) winner over Anett Kontaveit from Estonia.

Fourth seed Elina Svitolina secured her first-ever win over 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko as she won their encounter 6-4, 6-4.

Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens came through a three-set encounter as the fifth seed edged Carla Suarez Navarro from Spain 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 to secure a clash against Elise Mertens, who was a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) winner over Kristyna Pliskova.

Kristyna Pliskova only made the main draw after her sister second seed Karolina withdrew due to a viral illness.

More from Tennis365:

Latest