Wozniacki keeps No.1 hopes alive with win over Sevastova

Caroline Wozniacki remains in with a chance of reclaiming the world No.1 ranking following a late-night win over Anastasija Sevastova at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

The Danish second seed, who needs to go further in the draw than current No.1 Simona Halep, came through 6-2 5-7 6-3 against the Latvian 15th seed at Rome’s Foro Italico.

Halep had earlier been given a walkover into the last eight following the withdrawal of American Madison Keys.

“I felt my rib in my match yesterday and, after trying to warm up this morning, it was still painful,” Keys told wtatour.com.

What a match! ????????????????????????

Final spot in the @InteBNLdItalia quarterfinals belongs to @CaroWozniacki!

Tops Sevastova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 pic.twitter.com/rO09Syc6Hj

— WTA (@WTA) May 17, 2018

Halep, runner-up last year in Rome, will next play seventh seed Caroline Garcia, who beat US Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-1 7-6(7).

Defending champion Elina Svitolina continued her title defence after battling back from a set down to beat 14th seed Daria Kasatkina.

Ukraine’s world No.4 secured a 0-6 6-3 6-2 victory in a hard-fought contest to reach the quarterfinals.

Svitolina struggled to find her rhythm in the opening set, which she conceded in just 21 minutes to the Russian 21-year-old.

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The 23-year-old from Odessa had her confidence boosted in the second set with an early break before winning four straight games on her way to evening the scores and forcing a decider.

Svitolina, who won five tour titles in 2017, continued her resurgent run in the final set as she commanded the rallies on her way to an impressive comeback win.

Angelique Kerber will be Svitolina’s opponent in the last eight after the German former world No.1 dispatched Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-1 6-1.

Three-time champion Maria Sharapova beat Australia’s Daria Gavrilova 6-3 6-4 to set up a quarter-final against French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who beat Britain’s Johanna Konta 2-6 6-3 6-4.