World number one Iga Swiatek beat Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-1 6-1 to reach the last 16 of the Madrid Open.
The Polish top seed, a three-time French Open champion, needed only one hour and 18 minutes to win a one-sided third-round match on her favoured surface.
Swiatek, runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka in Madrid last year, will face Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo next.
“Sara is a Spaniard, will have the home crowd behind her and is really solid. A fighter as well,” Swiatek said.
Sorribes Tormo beat former world number one Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (7-0) 6-3.
Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, who has made a shaky start to the season, came through 7-5 2-6 6-4 against Canada’s Leylah Fernandez.
Jabeur, who won the Madrid title in 2022, will face Jelena Ostapenko for a quarter-final spot after the Latvian beat Argentine qualifier Maria Carle 6-3 6-3.
Greek fifth seed Maria Sakkari is also through following a 6-1 6-3 win over American Sloane Stephens.