English Woman's Journal - Keys reaches Eastbourne quarters, Boulter ousts Ostapenko

Fourth seed Keys saved two set points with clean winners serving at 5-6 in the first set before dominating the second set against the Ukrainian qualifier.

The American will next face 2023 French Open finalist Karolina Muchova, who is playing her first tournament for nine months, after the Czech eased past qualifier Magda Linette 6-4, 6-1.

Muchova, who had not played a tournament since last year's US Open due to a wrist injury, broke her Polish opponent in the first game.

She broke again in the opening game of the second set, building what proved to be a decisive 4-0 lead.

Boulter reached the last eight by overcoming Ostapenko 6-4, 7-5.

The British number one, who won the Nottingham tournament on grass earlier this month, will face either third seed Jasmine Paolini or Belgium's Elise Mertens in the next round.

"Honestly, I was trying to slap a little hit harder than she was," Boulter said. "She hits such a good ball, so tough to play against.

"You don't know what's going to happen, it's completely in her control. I just tried to be as aggressive and consistent as I could be and make her play every single ball."

Boulter raced to a 5-1 lead in the opening set before Ostapenko's power game began to shift the tide of the match but the British player snuffed out the Latvian's comeback efforts to win it 6-4.

Boulter broke three times in the second set to seal the win.

P.Smid--EWJ