Monica Niculescu has set-up a quarterfinal showdown with Elise Mertens, a rematch of last year’s Hobart International final.
The No.85-ranked Romanian scored a 6-4 6-2 second round win over American Varvara Lepchenko on Centre Court tonight.
Making her ninth appearance in Hobart, it is the fourth time Niculescu has reached the quarterfinals.
“I love this Centre Court, I feel like I’m at home,” she said.
But Niculescu was surprised when she learnt she would meet the second-seeded Mertens in the tomorrow’s quarterfinals.
> See tomorrow’s order of play
“Usually I don’t look at the draw,” she said. “We played a great final last year. She is tough, I think I just took three games off her. But now I’m going to relax and enjoy this victory and I look forward to the match tomorrow.”