Top seed Elena Rybakina beat Diana Shnaider in straight sets to qualify for the quarterfinals of the WTA clay-court event in Stuttgart on Thursday.

The 26-year-old Kazakh, who was champion in 2024 but skipped last year’s event, relied on her service game as she won 6-2, 6-4 against the unseeded Russian in one hour and 12 minutes.

Shnaider, ranked 19th in the world, improved in the second set but was undone by double faults at crucial moments, allowing Rybakina to capitalise.

Rybakina capped the match off with her ninth ace and will next take on either Leylah Fernandez or Zeynep Sonmez in the quarters.

Earlier, World No. 9 Mirra Andreeva pushed past American Alycia Parks in straight sets in their last 16 clash to extend her winning streak to six matches.

Czech Karolina Muchova came from a set down to beat Elise Mertens 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 to book her place in the last eight.

Muchova’s compatriot Linda Noskova crushed Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-1, 6-1 to set up a quarterfinal clash with Elina Svitolina, who cruised past German Eva Lys 6-1, 6-0 on Wednesday.

Later on Thursday, World No. 3 Coco Gauff starts her bid for a first Stuttgart title when she takes on Liudmila Samsonova.

Published on Apr 16, 2026