QIANG Wang remains the underdog in the bottom half of the 2020 WTA Tour’s Miami Open fantasy tennis tournament. The 26th seed remains China’s last hope in the title race, and set up a huge quarter final clash with Karolina Pliskova.

Qiang faced off against one of 2020’s most impressive risers in Russian 24th seed, Ekaterina Alexandrova. The Chinese player held off her Russian opponent in the first set tiebreaker to take it out 8-6, but was on the back foot early in the second. Alexandrova stormed to a 6-1 second set win to level the match, but Qiang took out the deciding set after a crucial early break and then another one late after Alexandrova broke back.

Qiang’s 7-6 1-6 6-4 win sets up a meeting with Pliskova who took out young gun, Dayana Yastremska. The Ukrainian was no match for the second seed who plowed her way to a 6-1 6-1 victory in just over an hour. It was an impressive performance from the Czech who could face off against either Kiki Bertens or Naomi Osaka in a blockbuster semi-final if she can defeat Qiang in the quarter finals.

Bertens got past the tricky Elise Mertens in her quarter final, winning 7-5 6-2. While the Belgian put up a fight in the first set, the Dutchwoman picked up the slack in the second and raced off to a double break which was never matched. Bertens takes on Osaka in the other quarter final after the Japanese two-time Grand Slam winner booked a spot in the last eight after a huge win.

The ninth seed won through to the quarter finals after defeating Indian Wells finalist, Aryna Sabalenka. In a match for the future, the two fast risers battled it out on centre court only for Osaka’s experience in big crunch matches to come to the fore. She eventually won 6-3 6-1 in about an hour and 34 minutes to make her way through to meet Bertens in what is a highly anticipated clash.

Tomorrow completes the Round of 16, with the top half of the draw going at it throughout the day. Early on, third seed Sofia Kenin locks horns with 17th seed Maria Sakkari, before Serena Williams continues her quest for another home title when she takes on 23rd seed Czech, Karolina Muchova. In the night session, it’s the surprise packet of the draw in Magda Linette lining up against 21st seed, Anett Kontaveit, before all eyes turn to the biggest match of the day between top 10 players and Grand Slam winners, Ash Barty and Garbine Muguruza in the final Round of 16 match.

ROUND 16 RESULTS:

[4] Kiki Bertens (NED) defeated [19] Elisa Mertens (BEL) 7-5 6-2
[9] Naomi Osaka (JPN) defeated [7] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 6-3 6-1
[26] Qiang Wang (CHN) defeated [24] Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) 7-6 1-6 6-4
[2] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) defeated [22] Dayana Yastremska (UKR) 6-1 6-1