Ukrainian Elina Svitolina scored her second win this year over a world No. 1, ousting Angelique Kerber in the round of 16 in Beijing Thursday. Nineteenth-ranked Svitolina took just two sets to beat newly crowned No. 1 Kerber — who ascended to the top spot at the US Open, the same week she also claimed her second Grand Slam crown — with a 6-3, 7-5 win. The 22-year-old left Serena Williams in tears in Rio in August, denying the 22-time Grand Slam champion a fifth Olympic gold medal with a straight set win. "When they announce (the names at the start of the march) you have this weird feeling because you realize you're playing against world No. 1," Svitolina said after the match. "I try to really don't think about it. If I think too much, I lose my way," she added. Svitolina will now play against Daria Gavrilova, who beat Caroline Garcia 6-4, 6-3. Kerber, who had her right thigh taped during the match, had a break lead in each set but appeared glued to the baseline and was unable to take control. The German still plans to play in Hong Kong next week as she chases points to end the year at No. 1 — but her right leg may alter her plans. Briton Johanna Konta secured her first ever win over US Open finalist Karolina Pliskova in a three set tie-break, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2). With a victory over the sixth-ranked Czech, Konta — currently at No. 14 — moves closer to breaking into the top 10 for the first time. The win also moves the 25-year-old into 10th position in the race for the eight-player WTA Final in Singapore, meaning she could play if one of the eight dropped out. But if fellow quarterfinalist Petra Kvitova, currently 12th in the race, continues her stellar Asian run, the Briton could be nudged out. Agnieszka Radwanska secured her second consecutive win over former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 6-1 to reach the China Open quarterfinals. The pair have met three times in as many weeks, with Wozniacki coming out on top in the first encounter in Tokyo. Third-ranked Radwanska booked her Beijing quarterfinal spot on the third match point with an impressive run to the net to return a drop shot from the Dane. Wozniacki lobbed the return, but the Pole made it to that one to take the match 6-3, 6-1. Later, home favorite Zhang Shuai cruised past Simona Halep 6-0, 6-3 to book a quarterfinal place. Second seed Rafael Nadal survived a late fightback from Adrian Mannarino as he beat the French qualifier 6-1 7-6(6) to reach the quarterfinals on a rain-hit day. "I think I played a fantastic first set. Great level of tennis, serving very good, hitting so good. During the second set, I slowed the rhythm a little bit and he played very well," Nadal, a 14-times Grand Slam champion, said. Nadal will face Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals. Dimitrov, who is bidding to reach his third final of the year, was two points away from defeat against sixth seed Lucas Pouille but fought back for a grueling 6-7 (3), 7-6(0) 6-4 victory in two hours and 26 minutes. All other matches were cancelled due to rain, including third seed Milos Raonic second round clash against Tunisia's Malek Jaziri. Monfils, Karlovic in quarters In Tokyo, second-seeded Gael Monfils overcame an ankle injury to beat Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-4 Thursday and advance to the quarterfinals at the Japan Open. The Frenchman will face Ivo Karlovic in the quarterfinals. The big-serving Croat had 24 aces while beating Janko Tipsarevic 7-6 (9), 7-6 (5), and has now gone to a tiebreak in all five sets he has played in Tokyo. Monfils beat Karlovic in Washington in July, the only time they have met since 2011. Also, Gilles Muller of Luxembourg defeated Marcos Baghdatis 6-3, 6-4 to set up a match against Nick Kyrgios, who progressed when Radek Stepanek withdrew because of a back injury. Top-seeded Kei Nishikori, who retired from his second-round match on Wednesday, pulled out of next week's Shanghai Masters. He said he still hopes to be able to play at the season-ending ATP Finals in London. ITF blasts Sharapova The International Tennis Federation (ITF) blasted Maria Sharapova Wednesday after she said that the governing body was attempting to make an example of her during her bitter doping ban. The 29-year-old Russian superstar, who had a two-year suspension slashed to 15 months on Tuesday by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), also said the ITF exhibited a lack of neutrality in the dispute. In an interview with the US broadcaster PBS the world's highest-earning sportswoman was asked that as a former world No. 1 and five-time major winner, if the ITF was trying to make an example of her. "I never wanted to believe that, but I am starting to think that," said the Russian. "I got a 24-month suspension, but they (the ITF) wanted four years for me." But the London-based ITF hit back Wednesday, defending its procedures and the tribunal which originally handed down a two-year ban after Sharapova tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Open in January. "The ITF did not ‘try to ban Ms Sharapova for four years'. The ITF took the position that it is the independent tribunal's responsibility to determine what the appropriate sanction should be," said a statement from the governing body released to the British Press Association.
