Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, 6 April 2018 | tennis.com.au

Ajla Tomljanovic battled successfully for more than two hours to seal a place in the quarterfinals of the WTA event in Monterrey.

Tomljanovic, the No.8 seed, saw off Russian teenager Anna Blinkova 6-2 5-7 6-2 and will next face Garbine Muguruza.

Since the Australian Open, Tomljanovic has won 10 of 14 matches and is back inside the top 100 after a near a two-year absence due to a shoulder injury.

Muguruza, ranked No.3 and the top seed in Monterrey, beat Alison Riske in her second-round match on Thursday evening local time.

The reigning Wimbledon champion smacked 24 winners and six aces to just eight unforced errors in a commanding 6-2 6-3 win.

Others players reaching the quarterfinals the hardcourt tournament were fourth seed Timea Babos, Olympic champion Monica Puig and in-form American Danielle Collins.