WTA roundup: Top seed Ann Li reaches Osaka quarterfinals

No. 1 seed Ann Li defeated Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez 6-3, 6-1 on Thursday to move into the quarterfinals of the ​Japan Open in Osaka.

It was 2-2 in the opening ‌set before the 26-year-old American won 10 of the next 12 games to finish in 88 minutes. Li delivered six aces, saved all ​six break points she faced and posted a 22-13 ​advantage in winners. Her opponent in the quarterfinals will ⁠be Austria's Lilli Tagger.

Li was the only seeded player in ​action at the WTA 250 event. Katerina Siniakova of the Czech ​Republic advanced with a 6-4, 6-1 defeat of Poland's Magda Linette. Mary Stoiana survived a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 battle with Japan's Moyuka Uchijima, and ​Antonia Ruzic of Croatia was leading 6-4 with Kayla Day ​retired after 52 minutes.

Ningbo Open

Defending champ and World No. 1 Elena Rybakina ‌moved ⁠into the quarterfinals in China after Uzbekistan's Polina Kudermetova was forced to retire down 5-0 in the opening set.

After spending only 30 minutes on the court Thursday, the top-seeded Rybakina should ​be rested for ​her meeting with ⁠Katarzyna Kawa of Poland. Kawa overcame nine double faults to knock off No. 5 seed ​Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 7-5, 6-2 in 1 ​hour and ⁠43 minutes.

Fourth-seeded American Iva Jovic also reached the last eight, finishing a 6-4, 6-3 win against Italy's Jasmine Paolini in 82 ⁠minutes. Jovic ​converted six of 11 break points ​to set up a showdown with No. 6 Diana Shnaider of Russia, a ​7-5, 6-4 winner against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines.