Qiang Wang beats second seed Kristina Mladenovic

Kristina Mladenovic was unable to build upon her Tuesday upset of second seed Karolina Pliskova as she was defeated 6-1 6-4 by Qiang Wang at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Eighth seed Elina Vesnina also failed to reach the quarter-finals as she was beaten 3-6 6-4 7-6(4) by Ana Konjuh in a two hour 31-minute battle.

Both Wang and Mladenovic produced some top-class tennis as Wang overwhelmed her opponent in the first set and Mladenovic then came close to taking the match into a third set. Wang failed to serve out the match after breaking to lead 5-3, but then broke serve from deuce in the next game.

"I just try my best, yeah, just focus on my game and I try my bring my best from the practice court," said Wang, who represented China at the Rio Olympics. "I was really nervous after (at) the end, and I just keep going, try to not focus on the points."

Konjuh took the first set from Vesnina after taking an early lead, and only three games went with serve in the second as Vesnina levelled the match. In the deciding set Vesnina broke for a 3-1 lead but Konjuh immediately broke back and then took the tiebreak.

Also into the quarter-finals is Dubai debutant Lauren Davis, who overcame Ekaterina Makarova 4-6 6-1 6-3. A player clearly on her way up, she won her first career title last month in Auckland and last week in Doha she qualified and went on to reach the quarter-finals before losing to Caroline Wozniacki. Davis had played her opponent twice before and lost heavily both times, so the win might have been something of a surprise.

"Yeah, she's an incredible competitor, and she just beat Cibulkova yesterday who's, I think, like, 3 in the world," said Davis. "She's playing really well, so I'm just happy to have executed my game plan well and have come out with a win. I'm really pleased with the way I have been playing, enjoying myself and sticking to my game plan. Just really having fun. I'm really happy to be here. It's an incredible tournament. I'm happy that I'm playing well here."

"The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships has often been a successful tournament for rising stars, and we congratulate Qiang Wang, Lauren Davis and Ana Konjuh for their fine victories today," said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, the tournament owners and organisers. "They all clearly have a fine future ahead of them and we wish them well." Tournament director Salah Tahlak added, "The pace is hotting up as the remaining players strive to claim one of the most coveted trophies on the WTA Tour, and there are plenty of intriguing battles still to come. History has shown that no player is safe from an upset and we look forward to seeing who will survive to contest Saturday's final."

Play in the WTA event continues until 25th February, and the tournament continues between 27th February and 4th March with the 25th staging of the ATP World Tour event which includes Wimbledon, Olympic and ATP World Tour Finals champion and world number one Andy Murray, Australian Open champion and seven-time Dubai winner Roger Federer, defending Dubai champion Stan Wawrinka, two-time Dubai finalist Tomas Berdych and the entertaining Gael Monfils.

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free, and held under the patronage of H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Tickets for every day of the event including the finals are still available from the Box Office at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, Garhoud which opens from 9am to 9pm daily. Tickets are also available online through www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com/en/tickets. For further information about tickets, prices and the tournament visit www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com.