World No.3 Karolina Pliskova said she is putting less pressure on herself in her ongoing quest for a maiden grand slam title after she stormed into the quarter-finals in Dubai on Wednesday.

The big-hitting Czech was untroubled in her 6-1 6-2 opening victory over Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic and now awaits the winner of the later clash between Elena Rybakina and Katerina Siniakova.

Pliskova has been tipped to do damage at the majors ever since she upset Serena Williams en route to the US Open final in 2016.

The 27-year-old has reached two more grand slam semi-finals since, and has spent eight weeks at the world number one spot in 2017, but has yet to secure silverware on the sport’s biggest stage.

“It’s been changing definitely, getting better with the years,” Pliskova told reporters in Dubai when asked about the amount of pressure she’s been placing on her shoulders to get that first major trophy.

“I think also the players are getting better as well. Feeling better about yourself doesn’t guarantee anything, not even one victory in the first round. I think also at times you need luck, you need a good draw.

“There are plenty of things which need to be there in those two weeks. It’s not only about this, but I think definitely I’m feeling better about myself and about my game too. Let’s see.”

The No.2 seed – already a title-winner this season having lifted the Brisbane trophy at the start of the year – improved her record to 4-2 head-to-head against Mladenovic, who also fell to Pliskova in the Australian Open first round last month.

Pliskova broke Mladenovic twice in each set, and didn’t face a single break point on her own serve as she cruised into the last eight in 67 minutes.

“I think the score is a little bit easier than it really was. I think we had a couple of tough games,” said Pliskova, a finalist in Dubai in 2015. “But overall I think I had pretty much all the match under my control.”

On Court one, American Jennifer Brady pulled off a phenomenal comeback as she rallied from a set and a double-break down to defeat Roland Garros finalist Marketa Vondrousova 4-6 6-4 6-1 taking 11 of the last 12 games of the contest.

Brady, who upset two-time champion and No.3 seed Elina Svitolina in the first round, takes on either Garbine Muguruza or Veronika Kudermetova in the quarter-finals.