Caroline Wozniacki books Istanbul quarter-final berth

Zee Media Bureau

Istanbul: Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the quarter-finals of TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup after beating Italian Karin Knapp 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 on Thursday. The former World number one from Denmark will play Karolina Pliskova for a place in the semi-final. 21-year-old Czech, Pliskova got the better of Israeli Shahar Peer, 6-2, 7-5. Croatian qualifier Ana Konjuh and No.2 seed Roberta Vinci also booked quarter-final berths at the Koza World of Sport Complex. In the quarter-finals, Vinci will meet sixth-seeded Kurumi Nara of Japan, who survived a thriller to beat Czech qualifier Katerina Siniakova 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-2 in two hours and 52 minutes. Konjuh, who defeated Misaki Doi in three gruelling sets, became the youngest WTA quarter-finalist since Donna Vekic in September 2012. The 16-year-old Croat had previously won the 2013 Australian and US Open juniors` single title. She will meet WTA Rising Star Elina Svitolina, who defeated Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland, for a place in the last four. The hardcourt tournament in Istanbul returned to the WTA calendar after a three-year hiatus during which time the Turkish city hosted the season-ending WTA finals.