The Slovakian started well, racing into a 3-0 lead, but Stephens pulled the contest back to 3-3 and was able to break Cibulkova's serve once more on the way to sealing the first set.

Undaunted, the diminutive Slovakian took the game to Stephens, breaking the American's serve three times in the second set to force a decider.

The third set saw more of the same, as Cibulkova took a 4-0 lead which ultimately proved unassailable, knocking Stephens out and setting up a quarterfinal against Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova, who defeated Donna Vekic of Croatia 6-3, 6-2.

In the pick of the men's doubles action, the Croatian duo of Ivan Dodig and Nikola Mektic beat the Chinese pair of Hua Runhao and Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 6-4.

Meanwhile, in the women's doubles, Wuhan Open winners Elise Mertens and Demi Schuurs continued their good form, beating Anastasia Pavluychenkova and Anastasija Sevastova 7-5, 6-2.

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