WTA Tashkent Open: Champion Nao Hibino through

Reigning champion Nao Hibino continued her progress at the Tashkent Open with a straight-sets win over compatriot Risa Ozaki.

The Japanese fourth seed, whose only WTA title came at this event last year, prevailed 7-5 6-1 as she hit her stride in the second set to tee up a quarter-final with sixth seed Lesia Tsurenko, who won 6-1 3-6 6-1 against qualifier Ipek Soylu.

Second seed Kirsten Flipkens endured a tougher test in her 7-6 (7-0) 3-6 7-6 (7-4) triumph over Maria Sakkari, while seeds Naomi Broady and Kurumi Nara were beaten by Irina Khromacheva and Kristyna Pliskova respectively.

In other matches, Denisa Allertova overcame Patricia Maria Tig, Sofia Shapatava was defeated by Kateryna Kozlova, and Stefanie Vogele was 6-3 3-2 up against Francesca Schiavone when the Italian retired.