Elina Svitolina reached the third round of the Abu Dhabi Open with a 6-4 6-1 win over Russian veteran Vera Zvonareva while former world no.1 Karolina Pliskova was eliminated in straight sets by a qualifier.

Svitolina will play 17th-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round after a routine win over Zvonareva in just over an hour.

Third-seeded Pliskova was beaten 6-2 6-4 by Russian qualifier Anastasia Gasanova, who was ranked 292nd in her first tour main draw and had never before played anyone ranked in the top 100.

Next up for Gasanova is a third-round meeting with Sara Sorribes Tormo.

“It’s like it was not me on the court. I was so sure of myself,” Gasanova said of her breakthrough win.

“It’s like when I step on the court, I’m a different person, I’m more angry.”

Fifth seed Garbine Muguruza also progressed into the third round with a 6-1 6-4 win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich andwill next face ninth-seeded Maria Sakkari, who eliminated young US star Coco Gauff 7-5 6-2.

Sixth seed Elena Rybakina converted her fifth match point to seal a 6-4 6-4 win over Wang Xiyu of China.

Rybakina next plays Daria Kasatkina, who advanced to the third round by walkover after her opponent Karolina Muchova withdrew.

Ajla Tomljanovic’s doubles partnership with Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin also continued to flourish as the pair defeated Chinese duo Yifan Xu and Zhaoxuan Yang 6-2 6-4 to move into the quarter-finals.